On the road again

Just got back from Springfield. Went up there with some work peeps for a campus visit at EU. They have great facilities and were very hospitable.

This week has just flown by. Tomorrow's going to be a catch up day at the office, trying to get to all the things on my to-do list that have gotten passed over the rest of the week.

Nothing much to report, but I am back in love with my job, so that energizes me. I'm a lucky, lucky gal.

Happy 501st post!

This is my 501st post. Man, that's a lot of drivel.

Happy birthday today to the amazing Amanda! I went to Tulsa last night to meet her and Sarah at the Cheesecake Factory for a pre-birthday dinner (although she thought yesterday was actually her birthday, and she's only 22).

Speaking of birthdays, since mine was so crappy this year, I decided to start a new birthday tradition and bought myself an expensive new handbag today (thank you, VISA!). If I can't find a man to buy me nice things, I'll buy them for myself. Scratch that... if I can't find a man I WANT to buy me nice things... So I decided that was my new tradition. By the time I'm 60 I should have quite the collection. Not that I don't already...

Today's the first textless day in quite a while. Perhaps he's finally gotten the hint.

I'm finally crashing from my three-hour sleep stint on Monday, so I'm off to bed. I have a trip to Springfield tomorrow with my boss and some other peeps.

Happy Hump Day!

Signed, sealed, delivered... I am so NOT yours

"How do you tell someone it's over? You send them a notarized letter, right? Well, what if the recipient is your notary?"
~Angela Martin, "The Office"

For once, I identify with the tightly wound Angela. I mean, I've never sent a notarized letter, but I'm near needing some sort of restraining order. How many texts do I ignore before he gets the message? Seriously, if you want to get on my good side, don't text me at 7 a.m. on a Sunday. I am not awake. It does not endear you to me in any way.

Today was the first Monday I've worked in over a month, and this marks the first full week in nearly six. Plus five trips to Rogers. But I got a lot done today. I love my new office. I was turning into one of those bosses... the ones who are out of touch and don't know what people do on a daily basis. Our admin is on vacation this week and today was eye-opening. I mean, I knew she was all kinds of awesome, but I had no idea all of the junk that she deals with so I don't have to. I am humbled. I don't want to answer the phone anymore. No, I don't know where your class is. Where's my diet coke?

I also realized today how not good it is that I'm within walking distance of Target and the mall. It's super convenient to run errands at lunch, but not good for the ol' checkbook.

Dad and V came up after work to treat me to a belated birthday dinner, then I introduced V to my beloved Promenade. I'm sure my Dad is not pleased.

I was uber lazy this weekend, but I did get to see the Texas fam on the 4th, and I'm hoping Jen updates her blog soon with the story about burying the 60 lb. dog in a plastic box full of ice and leaving him in the kitchen overnight. On her birthday. Please, please forgive me for laughing, but that makes my own birthday experience seem less painful. Sure, no one came to my party, but at least nothing died. Except perhaps my dignity.

Tomorrow's another busy day, then it's off to Tulsa for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate Nanner's birthday. I walked four miles tonight in preparation.

And Christy, in case you're reading this, I promise to update the other blog soon. I'm praying for guidance!

Oh, and is anyone else sick of hearing about Michael Jackson? Over the weekend, Steve McNair was murdered, there is a serial killer loose in South Carolina, Roger Federer made tennis history, Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska, and our President is decreasing our nuclear capacity, yet Michael Jackson was the subject of the first ten stories on GMA this morning. People, let's get some perspective! He was talented, yet a freak. Let's not canonize him anytime soon.

Firm goodbyes and little white lies

Be careful what you wish for.

I've been praying for months--no, years--for an attentive male. Now I have one I can't get rid of.

After days and days of non-stop text messages, I'd finally had it last night. Three or four unanswered texts in as many hours, and he finally says, "You know, if you don't want to see me anymore, all you have to do is tell me."

Oh, I have told you. In a million subtle and passive ways, I've told you. I've ignored your texts and phone calls. I've resisted plans. Been vague and sporatic in my responses. Just this side of rude, I thought.

And yeah, I've been the girl in the past who says she wants to know why he lost interest, but in the end, turns out the harsh truth isn't always the kindest exit.

So I chose the path of least hard feelings, telling a little white lie about why I couldn't see him anymore. Lack of attraction, too much attention, and a general bad feeling seemed a little too harsh.

Turns out I may have spared his feelings too well. Today he offered to send me flowers. Tonight he called to find out about my day. Tomorrow I'm going to have to kill him.

Just kidding. Sort of.

I'm just not that into you

I'm not quite sure why I continue to dip my toe into the dating pool. It's really hard to meet a normal, smart guy who is as equally into you as you are into him. Usually, the balance of power is woefully one sided.

I'm certainly no exception. I'm either the heartbreaker (doctor) or the heartbroken (lawyer). I'm just not that into the former and the latter is definitely just not that into me.

Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug. But either way, it's messy.

I suppose it's harder to see the signs when you're not looking, but they're always there. The not responding to texts. The vague response to being asked out (guys... "I'm really busy all week, let's talk next week" is code for "I don't want to make time for you."). Because, really, if my walking on the treadmill and incessant Facebook lurking takes precedence over dinner with you, it's so not going to happen.

And yeah, I tend to fall fast if I'm going to fall, but even I have whiplash after the initial lunch date follow-up text of "I need to know what you're thinking." I'm kind of annoyed by the 6:30 a.m. "Good morning, beautiful" text, and really, really annoyed by the 9:30 a.m. text of "Are you ok? You never responded to my text earlier today."

Ugh. Why do I only want the men who don't want me?

A friend of mine once said to me, "He who cares least controls the relationship." I questioned it at the time, but it's totally true. I have all the power in the doctor relationship. I'm still ignoring his dinner invitation from 10 hours ago. And I know if I called him right now he'd want to talk to me. Even if someone's bleeding.

But I won't. Because I don't care. And the lawyer? I'm obsessing over the fact that he hasn't called. Because I do care.

It's enough to make a girl want to give up on dating altogether. But I won't. That's why I agreed to another blind date. Because he might be the one.

Probably not. More likely, I'll be annoyed by him or he'll be avoiding my phone calls.

And so it has been since the beginning of time. At least Adam had to choose Eve. He wasn't looking around for someone thinner or hotter or a chick with a smaller leaf. Besides, she obviously was in control of that relationship. Forbidden fruit? Of course, for you, Eve.

Last week one of my exes sent me a Facebook message to wish me happy birthday, and asked how long it's been since our "little liasion." First of all, ick. And second of all, you are MARRIED. So inappropriate.

But the weirdest thing of all is that I can't remember why we broke up. I remember being devastated at the time, but now, I don't care at all. So life definitely does go on, and there are many, many more men left to break my heart.

And more hearts left for me to break, too.

Dad update

Quick update: Dad came home today. Still no answers about what caused the blackout, so he has some follow-up appointments soon.

Thanks for your prayers and your concern!

Prayer request

My father has requested that I NOT post this, but hopefully he'll forgive the breach of confidence. I'm asking that you please keep him in your prayers. He had a little episode this weekend in which he blacked out and wrecked his truck. He's been in the hospital for two days having tests. The good news is that, so far, they can't find anything wrong with him. The bad news is that they can't figure out what made him short of breath and pass out.

We all covet your prayers.