Been a long time since I blogged. I think the other entries are all from 2007 and earlier. Much has changed, not all good, but life goes on, doesn't it. I have a good life, and I often say 'it doesn't suck to be me' with a grin. Things have changed in a major way lately though. A stream of seemingly unconnected, almost random events came together to put me 180 degrees from where I was a month ago. The first event was my unbiological sister whom I love dearly sent me a Bible, with a beautiful green leather cover which matches my motorcycle. I sincerely appreciated the gesture and it sat on the table next to my bed, looking pretty, but untouched. About a month after that, I decided to accept an invitation from two friends to attend their church service. The sermon was about keeping relationships, mainly marriage, healthy. The Reverend started out saying that those of us who were there alone, without a spouse or partner, well, there was a reason, and that reason was that the person God had chosen for us just wasn't ready ... this was the first time it occured to me that I didn't have to actually *do* something to meet someone, that it isn't even in my power, it's in His hands and He's quite capable, thank you. :-) A couple of weeks later I sent an email to someone as a joke, and we began dating, not for long, only about 4 dates, but I did really like this man, I think he's the sort of man I'd like to end up with. I say I did like this man, I should say I do like this man, he will stay in my life as a friend, and I think I'm very fortunate to have him as a friend. But at the time, I was very upset, and I reached for the Bible that Vic had sent to me, opened it up to John 14 - and read how the way to the Father is through the Son. And it just resonated in my heart, that this is what was missing in my life, this was the relationship I had been looking for. Everyday I read from the book, and it speaks to me, it touches me, it heals me. I looked for a passage to read which would say how thankful I am for this change in me, and came across Isaiah 25:8 instead ... random passages that have much to do with my life ... this time the passage had to do with His promise to tear down the 'fortressed' walls ... I have built terribly tall walls around me, but I feel them tumbling daily. And I look back at my life up to now and I know that He has been after me for quite some time, but I just didn't look up. I can't even begin to say how glad I am that I paid attention this time.

Skyline Drive

What an absolutely perfect weekend for riding! There's a joke or a bumper sticker that says something about you never see a motorcycle parked outside a therapist's office - it is so true. To get on that motorcycle and ride someplace like Skyline Drive is so incredible - the views are amazing, and all the twisties - you can't possibly be upset after an experience like that. For the past six weeks I've suffered from what I thought was a really bad allergy attack. Went to the doctor FINALLY on Friday and she said bronchitis and sinusitus. I felt so terrible. But Saturday morning I got on the bike, and within a few minutes I was feeling healthy again. (Of course, when I got off, I had to hit the bed, but still, it's worth it).
I don't know why therapists don't prescribe motorcycles for people who are depressed .... ;-)

Scumbags

This is just too funny; I have to share it. Yesterday I just got an instant message from a man who lives in Connecticut. I'm in Maryland, work in DC. He travels for his work, and wants to know if I want to 'have some fun' when he travels to DC, which I interpret to mean sex. I said no, I don't have sex with strangers, and if I was compelled to do so, I most certainly wouldn't do so with a married man - I strongly believe in karma. I figure, he lives in CT and wants to mess around in DC, there must be a wife somewhere. He says no, he isn't married, and he also believes in karma, and he doesn't mess with married women. The next i.m. says 'unless they're pretty' ... I wrote back 'I'm so glad you have standards' but obviously sarcasm is wasted on someone who would actually admit to being so shallow and so immoral.
So this morning I get another i.m. from him - should have blocked him, but since he isn't on my list, and I deleted the i.m., I don't think I can. He wants to know if I have any girlfriends I would set him up with. Uh, no, I don't do that to the people I care about.
I take it back, this isn't funny. It is sooooo sad. The guy doesn't have a clue. And I have to remember not to delete his next i.m. if he is stupid enough to write again, so I can BLOCK him this time. And I really need to figure out what it is about me that attracts all the scumbags and psychos.

The Absolute worst week

Last week my computer died. It was a long, slow death, with little pop-up need more memory messages every few minutes. sigh. Friday my phone was disconnected. When I called the phone company to find out why, they couldn't figure it out. Today is Tuesday, and it took them until 3 p.m. today to figure out what the heck was going on and get me service. sigh. I spent from 5 a.m. Saturday morning until 11 p.m. Saturday evening with 150 middle school kids at King's Dominion. Actually, that was the good part of the weekend, except that I didn't get to go on any of the rides with them.

Next week will be better.

Taken in by Scammer??

I'm not sure, but I think I've been taken in by a scammer. I've been writing to this fellow who 'approached' me on okcupid while I was playing on the testing side. If you haven't been there, it's a lot of fun, sociological, psychological, nonsensical tests of all types. Also a match section, but the people on it are a little young for me. Anyhow, he says he's a soldier over in Iraq, and we've been writing for a while now - since November, 2005. He had given me the phone number of a friend of his in New York, and we've talked from time to time, mostly about our mutual 'friend' in Iraq. Well his buddy in NY e-mails me about a month ago that our friend has been injured, very seriously, and may not make it. I've really become attached to this person and I'm extremely upset by this turn of events. But now, as the guy supposedly is in the hospital in serious condition, little chinks in the story seem to be appearing, and I'm suspecting that both the fellow in NY and the one who supposedly was in Iraq, are one and the same. I don't understand why someone would do something like this, it isn't like he's gaining anything from it. I don't really have a way to check it out, and I don't want to stop writing the guy in the hospital, just in case my suspicions are false. But my intuition, which I make a habit of never listening to, unfortunately, is telling me I'm right. Life is difficult for people who are trusting.

Richard Lewis at the Improv

Well last night was a great disappointment. I love Richard Lewis on TV. I know he is a recovering alcoholic, I don't think he does drugs, but he sure sounded like he was out of it ... he rambled from one topic to another, seldom getting to a punch line. I will admit, his rambling got to be funny after a while; he came back to a story about being in a room with the Rolling Stones at least 8 times, but I don't think he ever got to the point of the story. I know the fellow sitting next to me at the next table enjoyed him more than I did; at one point the guy punched me in the arm! I just looked at him in amazement, and his girlfriend/wife/date grabbed him and started berating him for it. Ouch!