Since Then...

I haven't written since last Friday. Shame on me. I have had so much to say but now I'm here and logged in and hmmm... Must be list time. Too many thoughts. Here are some random ones for you:

1. Monday was my Grandma's memorial service. It was really special. The minister who carried the service was a very close friend of my Grandma and of my Grandpa...almost like a son to them. His family wasn't in town when he and his wife and sons arrived here years ago, so my grandparents just kind of adopted him. There was no one better to eulogize her. It was a hard day, but she would have been so proud... Interestingly enough, a lot of the service came from her writings. She'd once given an envelope to my aunt who thought it was just family records and memorabilia. Turns out, they were transcripts of talks she'd given and writings she'd contributed to different publications. So, her words were a big part of the memorial and that was oddly comforting. Unexpected. And her ashes are now resting beside my Grandpa, where her heart has been these last 23 years. Everything is in it's place...I just have to get used to this changed landscape and that is happening slowly.

2. If I haven't recently stated that I am completely in love with Steinvic, please take note. I would not have made it through the last month without him. No...that isn't true. I may have made it through the last month. But I would not like that world one bit! My life is better because he is such a big part of it. He is always devoted but he has been especially attentive, which I couldn't have imagined was possible because he already treats me so well. But I appreciate it. I am so very fortunate...(Thank you, Steinvic, for the sunflowers...for everything...)

3. I'm determined to have some fun and feel normal this weekend! We need fun. I am going to see it out as much as possible.

4. My new computer is freaking fantastic. This weekend, Steinvic and his brother-in-law figured out the issue with the wireless connection and got me all configured and up and running. Also, I was able to use my Zune last night and get it all synced up and loaded some new songs which I really needed to do. Music rut ended!

5. I made my famous Pasta Bake to share at work today to celebrate a big milestone in our department. Half of the pan is gone. That means that my colleagues had pasta for breakfast and I love that!

6. I am going to go read about Ted Kennedy now. RIP, Ted...Wow. What a life.

That's it for now. See, I posted! Hopefully more soon...

Fresh New Week

Last week was quite a week! I ended up being totally sick and even missed work! (GASP!) I think I jinxed myself because I'd joked with Steinvic about taking a Fake Sick Day (like I'd ever do that!) while he was in Phoenix. Instead, I got a REAL sick day and a half. I zipped out of work late Tuesday and was down for the count on Wednesday. Almost back to human now.

Steinvic came home on Friday. So very glad to have him home! But also, really happy that he got to go and spend that time with his cousin. As unhealthy as his cousin is, he rallied and hung out with Steinvic most every day. I'm sure that Steinvic being there was the best medicine possible.

So, Steinvic is home, healthy, tan, happy, well rested and he even brought me a shirt from the new Goodyear Stadium. And a pack of gum in an odd flavor (Mango Kiwi Cooler) that he thought I'd like. I might be a total dork, but I dig the fact that my boyfriend was in line somewhere and saw gum that he felt I had to have...something really cool about that. We also have made a date a year in advance to go to Goodyear to see the Reds during Spring training...I'm already looking forward to that.

AND, U2 has announced their tour dates for Europe and some dates in the US! Very exciting stuff. We ended up seeing them three times on the Vertigo tour - New York, Cleveland and Las Vegas. Not sure if we can afford be so exotic this time (New York ain't cheap!) but I'll bet we make it to at least two...

That's all from here for the moment...just didn't want to neglect my hundreds of readers who didn't know what to do with yourselves after I posted about my found Zune last week. :)

FOUND!

I still miss Steinvic, and apparently I have a cold that is kicking into high gear...

BUT I found my Zune last night!

I joked with a colleague yesterday that I would remove the seats from my car to find it if that's what it took...but I wasn't really joking. After a half hour of cleaning my car out (it wasn't that bad...I was just being thorough) I was on the verge of going to the Auto Zone to get a set of tools for just this purpose when I remembered something.

Through the fog of feeling crappy on Sunday, I remembered being in the living room and hearing the sound of something dropping onto plastic. Like the sound of something hitting a plastic bag.

At the time, I looked behind the couch - which had a plastic bag from Michael's sitting next to it - saw the extension cord back there and figured part of it must have hit the plastic bag while slipping off the couch.

I dumped the bag onto the floor and there, amidst all the art supplies I'd just bought was my ZUNE!

Instant mood change. Relief! Joy! Elation!

I really should be so attached to it, but I am...

With the Mate to Your Favorite Sock...

Happy Monday...

Yes, I survived the rest of the weekend without Steinvic. His son and I went to the family party on Saturday night, after dropping Steinvic at the airport. We stayed at Steinvic's Mom's and I took him to lunch and out for some provisions, then dropped him off at Steinvic's. I packed my car and headed home.

I was listening to my beloved Zune, which gets the entire passenger seat to lounge on while entertaining me. I have it hooked up to a transmitter, so my car is full of music and it makes the commute much more pleasant. (Steinvic gave this to me for my birthday last year and I use it every single day. Love it!)

Suddenly, it stopped playing. I glanced at it and sure enough, dead battery. Since I was on the highway at this point, I didn't fool with the charger or anything. I just pressed a button on the stereo so I could listen to a CD and left my Zune sit there on the seat.

I started feeling really bad as I was driving. Just...kind of icky and really tired. When I got home, I didn't even unload the car...just stopped to get the mail, locked up the car and headed inside to lie down. Which I did and fell asleep for a few hours.

When I woke up, I drove to Meijer for some groceries (I know, two grocery stores in one day...just as fun as it sounds!) got home, unloaded everything including my weekend stuff, got a shower and started doing things to get ready for the week. Including charging my Zune.

Which has disappeared.

I thought it was in my purse. Not in my purse. In my work bag? Not in my work bag. Huh.

Must be in the car, right? Put coat and shoes on over pajamas. Of course, it's pitch black outside, but it should just be somewhere near the passenger seat, right? No?

Under the seat? No. Seat crack? No. Under the mat? No.

I went back in the house and looked around. Back out to the car again. Because I'm psycho, I did this FOUR times, finally admitting it was too dark and giving up for the night.

Got up early this morning (still not feeling so hot, no appetite, tired, zero energy) got ready, and in my work clothes, as day light was breaking, searched again.

No.

Stopped for gas once I reached my work exit. While it was pumping, looked some more.

No Zune.

So, I feel like crap, miss Steinvic, can't find my MP3 player...

At least it isn't snowing!

I'm not giving up my search...