And I’m back…

Chicago was great, Lollapalooza was awesome. I posted pictures in flickr… http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesela/. Good times. I believe my favorite set of all was Flogging Molly…I also loved Nine Inch Nails, Raconteurs, Devotchka, Yeasayer, Radiohead, Chromeo…ah, I could keep going for a while…

I am having a hard time readjusting. I haven’t been staying up late but I’m just so run down. I turned 30 on Monday, and spent the evening watching the Doctor Who finale (both parts). I am at a loss as far as the finale goes…totally.

I was able to pick up Julian yesterday. He was so insanely affectionate and sweet last night, except he kept me awake trying to bite at me and play all night. I wouldn’t respond and he’d cry. Ack. This sometimes happens the first night he’s back, I think he’s excited to see me…which makes me happy, but I’m so tired! I had my milk and vegetable juice (not at the same time, gross!) this morning and am now on to coffee. Maybe it will all kick in. C’mon…

Approx 1 hour later: Well, I’m awake but with a massive headache…fabulous.

Mine can be found here :) Yay! (I'm still uploading, flickr is being mean)

The day back from vacation is always tough. This one is especially…ah well, here I sit in my cubicle with not a lot to show except a tan and some rather interesting bruises…

The car problem is partially resolved: Long story, short…Geico rules and pretty much saved the day with the car issue. It is running and didn’t cost much…thank God. They literally got a VW repair guy to open his shop for me on Saturday…he had it running within 30 min. Hallmark VW’s service department is going to get way more than an earful from me. They didn’t replace a very important piece…and turns out that new alternator? I may not have needed it in the first place. Seriously. Ah well…that is behind me now (well, the emergent part).

Despite the dramatic insanity, this was the best vacation ever. One quote that I think really sums up the kind of bond and friendship that we all experienced (new and old friends alike) is from one of my all time favorite U2 songs (“One”): Carry each other.

I’m a bit slow uploading my pics to flickr, I got in late last night and am having to do the worlds quickest apartment clean tonight…but they should all be up tonight or tomorrow.

It looks like it is going to storm this morning, which isn't necessarily a bad thing--but the storms tend to bring in the jellyfish. I saw two pretty big ones yesterday, scary!

So anyway...the trip so far--

I left work at 2 on Tuesday and had a really nice drive down. I was making insanely good time, I was probably going to make it in 7 hours, which is an hour less than usual...then things got a little messed up. I had been following the googlemaps directions exactly, but somehow I ended up driving into Florida and then back into Alabama...I realized this when I passed an AL highway sign. It was about 8:30pm at this time and very dark. There were gas stations, but they were all closed. I remembered that I keep an atlas in my trunk for such occasions, so I pulled over into one of the closed gas stations (still dark) and went to fetch the atlas. It was buried under a bunch of beach chairs/luggage/etc. so it took me a bit. When I was walking back to get in the car a truck flew by me and then suddenly stopped a few yards ahead. I though maybe it was someone that lived in one of the houses across the street. I got back in the car and locked the doors and tried to quickly examine the map to determine where I went wrong. I noticed a man getting out of the truck, so I decided to continue down the road until I found civilization. I pulled out and the guy tried to flag me down...creepy. Anyway, just a few blocks up was an actual open gas station. Hallelujah! I pulled right up to the door and ran in. The woman barely knew what state she was in, but at least was able to tell me I was going the wrong way...I was back to the map. I went out to my car and that creepy man had followed me there (on foot--it was pretty close by). I ran and jumped in my car, locked the doors and hauled ass out of there...yeah...so I ended up making it here around 11. But I made it, and that is what counts. But still...I'm not sure if the guy had bad intentions, it was just too freaking shady and weird.

This house is incredible. The kitchen is beautiful, the rooms are fantastic...the view is breathtaking. We are literally a few steps from the beach...and Red Bar! I'm going to upload some photos soon, I promise :)

One big problem, however, is the lack of people in the house. I don't know what we are going to do, but we have to think of something...and fast. Ah well, I'm going to try to be positive and think that everything happens for a reason. But yeah, be thinking of me. Seriously. In the past few days I've taken massive financial hits and they keep coming. Oh well, not the place or time to talk about it...but it's wearing on me.

Screw it, I'm at the beach. I just ate a fabulous breakfast burrito. I've already made some kick @ss friends down here and I've got a tan. Booyeah.

Just four hours and I’ll be on my way to the Grayton…and it’s about time. These are going to be four very long hours…

I am looking forward to standing at the waters edge tonight watching the stars and just staring out into the darkness. There is something so incredibly humbling about it. Sure it’s fun during the daytime, but nighttime is the best time to be at the beach.

Hooray, at the end of the day I get to turn the page on my LOM calendar…this may not seem like a huge deal, but I’ve had a very angry looking Sam Tyler glaring at me all month. I can’t take it, Sammy! In fact, I think I’ll turn the page a day early. Haha, July is awesome. It’s Sam and Gene standing by a car with the following dialogue:

Sam Tyler: “I think she’s telling the truth.”

Gene Hunt: “I think she’s as fake as a tranny’s fanny.”

God I love that show. I realize I’m a massive geek…and am learning to accept this. Heee.

Alright, today is virtual Thursday. Somewhere around 3pm tomorrow, I hope to be on the road on my merry way to Grayton. I have a cd of a Doctor Who radio show thanks to a new friend and will have a rockin’ playlist which should make for a decent drive.

Yesterday we had a family birthday party for my niece. She turns 4 tomorrow. I cannot believe it has been 4 years since I made a super excited post about being an aunt and followed it up with pictures from the hospital.
http://jamesela.livejournal.com/30813.html
http://jamesela.livejournal.com/31122.html

Alright, insane-amaza-crazy stressful stuff for work, so I'm going to log off this crazy thing.

I have been absent from LJ lately. Just not a lot going on that I feel like sharing. There are a lot of stressful things going on and people that are not exactly helping.

My birthday is tomorrow. I have no idea what I am going to do. I’m just not motivated to make a decision. Ho hum. Whine whine whine.

I did have a really nice trip to Florida (Destin/Miramar Beach) this past week. I put some pictures on Flickr. (photos link to the left)

I’m reading your posts and hope you are all doing well. I’ll be back in commission soon (I hope).

Cheers,
j.