wheeler keeps turning

On Saturday, since it was such a beautiful and mild day (especially for August in the Deep South), I suggested that Jeff and I take the short drive to Joe Wheeler State Park and Resort. We did, and I’ll leave most of the comments for the pictures.

EXCEPT to point out how, as we walked on one of the nature trails, we happened upon a deer that remained sitting in its spot even as we passed about 15 feet away from it. As we walked away, I was all, “D’oh! I should’ve taken a picture!” But, to be honest, I didn’t linger because I didn’t want the poor thing to feel crowded … and to react to the threat by getting up and kicking us repeatedly. (Stranger things have happened, right??)

welcome to me

My boyfriend and I reached a milestone last week: the four-year anniversary of our first date. In honor of this, I finally shared with him that I have websites, including this blog.

So, Jeff, if you’re reading this . . . welcome! I know I cautioned you – twice – that I sometimes rant, and you seemed to take it under advisement. Perhaps I should’ve specified that I’ve ranted about you, but I didn’t want to belabor the point, especially when it’s been quite a while since my last rant.

I’ve been trying to decide why I waited so long to tell you about the websites. I know I didn’t mention them when we first started dating because I didn’t want to overshare. Then, I guess I liked having my privacy. But since this year began – or was it last year? – I’ve resolved to try to talk *to* people instead of complaining *about* them, and I think that knowing you can read what I write will help keep me accountable.

Maybe part of me also wanted to keep the sites a secret because I feared rejection. Years ago, I let my boyfriend at the time read my real journal. I was trying to reassure him that my feelings for him were real, but it backfired on me, because in his reading he focused on how I said another guy that we worked with was cute. My ex said glumly, “I was just the guy who bugged you into going out with him.” If I’d thought for a second that what I wrote would hurt the guy’s feelings, I would’ve kept it to myself.

But in the case of this blog, and even the rest of the sites, they’re *meant* to be shared. Even if I’m ranting, I keep in mind that anyone could read it, so I try not to say anything I wouldn’t want known. So, Jeff, when you read the less-upbeat musings, feel free to share your thoughts on them. In fact, I would LOVE for you to mention things you’ve read here. For one thing, that would show that you’ve been here and are giving my writings some thought (and you know how important it is for me to feel listened to!), but also it would start a discussion, another very desirable outcome.

I’m not sure what else to say by way of introduction. I know there’s a lot of material here. (I did mention the twenty sites, right? And actually it’s more than twenty if you count the little ones…) When perusing the blog entries, you might find it helpful to do so in the archive, which contains the entries from the current blog as well as those from previous years.

Again, welcome!

lessons learned from email

I just can’t seem to blog about the things that have been going on in my life lately, so I’m posting the start of my latest email to my friend Michele. (Michele, don’t read this unless you want to spoil the surprise, lol. I plan to finish the email and send it to you by the middle of next week. Hopefully, I’ll be able to report some progress in the topic in the first paragraph.)

Hi, Michele!

Well, yesterday was the 4 year anniversary of Jeff’s and my first date. Without launching into a ramble, I will say that this date (milestone?) has been on my mind. I remembered writing to you – maybe back in January? – that it was coming up later this year, but when I realized a few days ago that *this* was the week, I was flabbergasted. I’ve really been feeling that I need to take this opportunity to tell him (as I said all those months ago) “We’ve been dating for four years now, and I’d like for us to discuss how we think we’re doing…” I’m planning to say this to him either tomorrow (if he calls) or on Saturday at the latest. I really, really think this is something that he and I need to discuss and soon.

Moving on before I start to ramble, yes, I too was blown away by the death of Michael Jackson. His music was such a big part of my younger years, and – like with the 80s music in general – I have such good memories of listening to it. When I hear his songs now, I can’t help feeling sad that his life, once so promising with so much talent, took such a tragic turn. :*(

About my mom’s house being hit by lightning, it must’ve just got into the electrical stuff, so we’re pretty thankful for that! One house not far away was struck by lightning years ago, and it caught on fire and had to be torn down. It definitely could’ve been worse!

I got an email yesterday from one of my former co-workers that he’d been rehired. He was let go back in June. I’m really glad for him, because he has a wife and three kids to support, and he’s from that area, so I know he’d like to stay there. That got me wondering if they’d try to call me back to work. I quickly dismissed that notion – as I have from the start – since they called mine a “termination” and not a lay-off. Plus, I *really* don’t want to go back there, to that same old mess. I’m really looking forward to starting something new.

And speaking of something new, I taught our class’s Sunday School lesson last week. 😮 Our teacher – who is the pastor – was going to be on vacation, so he asked for a volunteer. There were just a few of us, so I volunteered. The topic was one near and dear to my heart: finding and following God’s will. Part of the lesson was about waiting for God’s timing, and I still marvel at how that falls right in line with what you and I are always saying. I even used an example that you mentioned about waiting: like with baking a cake, you want it *now* but if you don’t wait until it’s ready, it won’t be nearly as good.