NikB #24

[NikB]

Thanks Michelle and H!

Michelle
Sounda like you know exactly what I mean. So sorry to hear about your grandma, too.

Talked to my dad today and he said "she's dying but not quickly, it may drag on for awhile." Didn't quite know how to take that.. it sounds like she's not suffering so I guess that's the most important thing.

H
In spite of all the other stuff going on.. the piano thing was SO fun!!!

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On to journaling.. already mentioned what's going on with my grandma. Wish I could do more but I guess just caring is about the best I can do right now.

We did go get the car today - it's quite cool!! It was about a 3.5 hour drive each way. I felt kinda bad for H's friend who was in the back seat of the truck.. always hard to be part of conversations and such from there. But it was fun anyway. On the way back we all got hungry and I saw this total hole in the wall Mexican place - suggested it and they both skeptically went for it (we all agreed it'd likely be either one of those great "finds" or really awful). Turned out to be a great find! So that was nice. H kept talking about "next time we come out here we'll have to go here"... I know everyone understands just HOW nice that "we" sounds.

At one point on the drive home H said "hey we're a 3 Mustang family again!" (car he sold last Sat. was a 66 Mustang and the new racecar is one, also.. plus his restored 69 Mustang and my 05 convertible). "We" and "family" in one sentence took me by surprise so much I know I did a double take - he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. All in all, a good day together.

When we got home, I did some stuff around the house, took my car up and got it washed/vacuumed (normally do it myself but it was BAD so I thought it was worth it to pay someone this time and then I will keep up with it from now on). Came home and did my hair really nice, makeup, perfume, etc. I was SOO tempted to stay home and hang out in the garage while the guys ooh'd and ahh'd over the car... but forced myself to go ahead to the piano thing.

As I was leaving H was WAY confused. He knew I was going out but not many details. You'll like this:

H: Oh going out with [friend up the street]?
Me: Oh - naw, I invited her but she's trying to save money so she decided not to go.
H: Oh... so, you're going out though?
Me: Yep. Dueling pianos! At [bar name]
H: Wow. You look nice. You should look for [H's friend] - he goes there a lot.
Me: Me: Thanks! [while grabbing keys out of my purse, and H came over to hug me].
H: You smell good too!
Me: Thanks!
H: So... you're meeting people there, or... ?
Me: Yep, should be fun!

He called around 11:30 but I didn't hear the phone. Just saw it on my way home from the place. I was probably singing at the top of my lungs when he called.

I'm sure I would have enjoyed staying home too... but the piano thing was SO great!!! I haven't done that in ages. It was PACKED when I got there - but didn't see anyone from my group. It's always this kind of "stomach in knots" feeling until you find someone you know.. you're walking through the bar scanning faces and trying to see if they "match" photos, and thinking "I wonder if one of the other 30 people showed up!" It's weird.. good, glad, I overcome that fear, but it's weird.

Then someone recognized me, and she was from ANOTHER meetup group (and one of the guys with them was also the one I was "paired up" with for Valentine's dinner last year). Turns out there were 3 separate meetup groups, all expecting around 25-35 people... crazy coincidence!! I think 95% of the bar was meetup groups! That was pretty funny.

I was kinda conservative at first then decided to just be crazy.. what the heck right?? I requested some songs that I used to hear that were apparently too "questionable" for this place. They are fun but definitely a bit..err. "adult." They played one and then the piano player looked at me and said "HOW do you know all these?" I grinned and told him the bar I used to go to and he said "Ohhh that explains it." (really they aren't THAT bad, just fun, but definitely on the dirty side)

The am usually SUCH a wimp on getting in front of people, but went for it tonight. I got up with all the ladies and did the girls part of "Summer Lovin'" from Grease, and we also all got up and did the Hokey Pokey. Oh, and the Chicken Dance. Fun stuff.

In a dorky moment.. on my way to the bathroom some guys stopped me and said "Oh! Is that a Coach purse?" [it's sooo not, and sooo obviously not, I should have realized it was a conversation starter but I missed it]. I said "Uhh no.. $10 special from Ross, but thanks." The guy said "Aw man.. I needed some advice. I was supposed to get my girl a Coach purse for her birthday but I hear they are really expensive. How much are they?" I said "Uhh last time I looked $500 or so used on eBay." He said "Oh so what like $1000 new" I said "probably.. but seriously, it's a PURSE, who cares?" His friends cracked up and said "Dude, go to Ross!" I felt really stupid!! No biggie but it just reminds me that I sometimes need to stop and think before speaking.

Silly thing, anyway, but I just hate when I do stuff like that - make dumb comments without realizing how they come across.

I am sooo hoarse right now from yelling, singing, laughing at the piano thing... woo hoo!! Now I just need to go out dancin' and get my muscles sore to make the weekend complete.