Thoughts on Love while Missing Frank...

Did you ever wonder why we get so lost in love stories? Is it because we wish ordinary life were so exciting? Does anyone really ever fall in love like they do in the movies? Probably not, and that is why we keep going back for more. If it ever really happened that way to us, we wouldn't need to keep watching the next one. No one wants to see their own lives rerun. 

But real life is not the same. It's better. Who has the energy anyway for the way it is when you first fall in love?  Or is it lust? Really, we think it's love at the start but that's not what love is about. Love is discovery, knowledge and trust. Those cannot be gained in hours or days. Love takes time and insight. Then the real deal happens. I think the best passion is gained only after time. Looking back upon my greatest love affair (the one I'm still in) I can see how it has only gotten better with time. When someone has seen every side of you, every emotion good and bad, and they still stand by you, that's real. When everything you do and say is a result of your consideration of your mate, that's true love. When good thing and bad happen to me, I immediately think of sharing them with Frank. I know he'll laugh or cry with me, praise me or give me an idea what I could do to make it better. And that's better than any movie I've seen or book I've read. Although, I guess I'll keep watching and reading. And still I'll know that in the end, I've got the best story out there.

Just say no to Wampler

I got a call today from Wampler and Sons.  They are a local home improvement contractor. The very polite woman was offering someone from the company to come out and give me a free estimate on our next remodeling project. Great. I have another company coming tomorrow. It would be good to get some other estimates. I was ready to set it up for sometime this week. I told her my availability and she wanted to know if my husband would be there as well. I told her he would be out of town. She thought maybe we could set it up when he returned. It seems it's company policy that both spouses be present as they give a lot of information. I guess little ol' me couldn't understand the big words and numbers the contractor might use.  I told her he would not be back until December. "OK," she said, "lets set it up for then." "Uh, no. I have others coming out this week and would like to get something done sooner." "Oh, sorry no can do." I said I'd have to use someone else and she said, "OK." and hung up. 

What? Excuse me? What year is this! I was so pissed. I tried to call back to tell her to tell Mr. Wampler and his chauvinistic sons that I do not approve of his policy nor will I ever use his company or recommend them to any one. I am quite capable of getting an estimate. I am certain I would be able to relate the necessary information to my spouse. I was so fired up I think I scared the kids a little. I did get over it quickly. Unfortunately the woman must have known I was calling back and she didn't answer the phone. Chicken Shit!   

So when I run the world... estimates can be given to a wife home alone, holding down the fort in her capable hands. Sheesh!

Rudeness on the Trail

I have recently started biking the NCR trail again after a long span of bicycle neglect.  I thought since I can't run anymore I would try dusting the cob webs off the bike and see what a little exercise felt like. It felt pretty good physically. Mentally though, it's not what I thought it would be. 

I noticed the first few times I was out how unfriendly most people are. So I decided to do a little tracking the last time I was out. I tallied how many people I passed face to face (those I passed on the way don't count as I can't see their faces) and kept track of how many smiled, nodded, waved or greeted me in some way. 

 

At first I was delighted. I got smiles, waves and hellos from the first five people I met. Then the numbers got dismal. I noticed women more than men will completely ignore the fact that another human being is in their midst. Male/female couples seemed to be the friendliest. Groups of women seemed to be the least friendly. I don't know what is in the tree branches when I pass some women but it sure must be interesting. So often, just as I am peddling near enough to make some sort of greeting, they look up in the trees. 

I went 7 miles north and was very disappointed to count less than half of my fellow cyclers and pedestrians  greeted me in some way. And by greeting I don't mean I am looking for a "Hello! How do you do?" All I really need is a nod, a small raising of the lips into a partial smile, a grunt would even suffice. We're all out there to enjoy the beauty of nature while we get a little exercise so why can't we be friendly in the process?

On one outing, I had the kids with me and I recognized a passing biker as a friend from my childhood. I called to her and we stopped, moved out of the way of passing cyclists and joggers and chatted a bit. One burly biker coming toward us stared and shook his head as if we were somehow ruining his ride. We were not in his way and on no way did we slow him down. And yet, he still thought it necessary to glare at us and pass judgement. So, of course, I yelled out as sarcastically as I could, "Sorry we ruined your ride!" My friend was mortified at my boldness. Then she related a story in which she and her friend were riding along chatting and a rider came toward them and asked if they could talk a little louder. Voices do carry at some points on the trail, but when did having a conversation while exercising become a crime? 

I could understand wanting uninterrupted exercise time if you're training for a race or if you are really hard core. But, I don't think the NCR trail is the place for that. It's a flat wooded trail friendly to walkers, joggers, bikes, strollers and horses. It's not exactly a trip trough the Tour de France route. There are tons of little kids and families, old people, young couples, people on their lunch hour getting in a walk. It's a casual place. And should be a friendly one. 

Fortunately I don't let the rude ones keep me from coming. I'll still take my 14 mile rides and soon make them 20 mile rides. I'll still take the kids out on the weekends and evenings for a ride to the ice cream shop. 

So if you see me out there, ignore the branches overhead and give me a little nod. 

I know, I know, it's been a while...

I have been very busy. Well, sort of. I did get a facebook page and that eats up a lot of my time now. So I am going to make an effort to get back in here and start blogging again. Lots of interesting things have happened to me lately so I should have quite a bit to blog about. One of which is my awesome new computer. I had gotten one too many viruses on my old PC and I just couldn't take it anymore. Not to mention, Frank has the laptop in Louisiana and I didn't have his as back up anymore. Now I have an iMac. It's fantastic. And, I can iChat with my beautiful husband. That's the best part about it. It's easier to miss him when I can see him a few times a day. So, it's good to be back in the blogsphere. I hope you enjoy what is to come.

Stay tuned.