Roll with it

Mark wanted me to cross stitch him a saying that he hears a lot nowadays:

Just roll with it.

For him, it means just acknowledge the changes, adjust, and move on.  I wish I felt as philosophical about it as he does.  Nevertheless, I try to remind him often that things have to change to get better.  {Probably I should stitch that snappy phrase...}

And, although I like to cross stitch more colorful phrases, that wouldn't do for his office.  I can't have his boss and co-workers thinking I'm some sort of weirdo.  Besides, it will good for me to have a distraction and keep me busy.  You can't drink and stitch, so I guess its helpful.  As long as I have something constructive and creative to do, I feel better, anyway.

I pulled out my bag of thread, leftover from the days when Chloe was in 5th grade and she would make friendship bracelets with her buddies on sleepovers.  Those were the days, right?  I also have a small sewing box from the 70's full of thread that some child likely spent hours winding around empty thread spools.  I always look for that kind of stuff when I go thrifting.  I have enough thread now to last me through a few years of cross stitching.  There are lots of bright reds, pinks, and blues. 

It took me a couple of days to complete while he was out of town. 

I popped it into a cheapie IKEA frame and had it ready for him to take to his office when he got back from his out of town trip.  {I also got all of his suits and pants dry cleaned and kept the house from burning down while I simultaneously held down a job.  I'm a keeper.  maybe I should apply for a job as a personal assistant}

Then I sat on the floor in my bedroom, sorting the thread, unspooling it, saving the wooden spools, recycling the rest, and tidying up my stitching bag.  For some reason that all made me feel sad.  So I boo-hooed a little, then got back to my task.

****** 

I'm ready for happier, less lonely days and not so much change.  For feeling confident and content as I go about my work day, with work buddies I can rely on, and a boss who values my contribution. Learning new things and making a difference to other people.  That's how it used to be for me.  I'm not saying I was the World's Best at what I do for a living, but I am mindful of doing my best as I go through my day.  And I looked forward to going to work - I like what I do and where I work.  Why can't it be that way again?  I don't want to live in the past, but why does the present have to suck?  

Oh dear.  I guess I need to get busy on another project.

Happier Hours

Hubby and I have discovered that going out more often helps us reconnect and get away from jobs and "kids".  Well, truth be told, both of us have always enjoyed a drink.  Or two.  But nowadays, we can afford to do that more often - both time and money-wise.

On a recent Friday we visited a wine bar in Round Rock and enjoyed some wines by the glass with a goat cheese appetizer....goat cheese, pecans, raspberry chipotle sauce.  Delightful!  And the atmosphere on their outside deck was lovely - lots of shady trees and not too crowded.

Then it was off to Jack Allen's Kitchen where we indulged in Red Handed Smash and Grabs, a Pomegranate and Basil Martini, and my favorite drink of all time...

 

...the Mexican Martini.  Lest you think we drink too much, I might add that we also ate dinner and that these drinks were spread out over three hours. Maybe we are catching up from that period between Baby #1 and age 17 of Baby #4 where we pretty much never went out.  We didn't have grandparents or available babysitters, and money was always tight.  Our priorities were vastly different then than they are now.  Maybe old age is creeping up on us, but we aren't going to slow the Happy Hour roll anytime soon.  In fact it's a regular thing for me to ask "where are we are going this Friday?".  As long as I can make it to work on Saturday hangover-free, I think it's a good thing.
{Hence, the limiting of alcohol on the Plan for Living...}