unwell.

MonsterMustDie was home in Atlanta for a couple of days this weekend to visit and load up as much I could have him take to the new house. I know he sees it as stuff to lug inside but anything to lighten the amount we have to load up and unload all at once when we make the BIG move will be good.

Feeling very unwell today. I went out for brunch at Babettes cafe. I had the shrimp grits and wild mushroom soup and 1 (one) basil lemonade before we went to Oakland cemetery to walk around the Sunday In The Park festival. Today, I feel like I'm having a bad hangover - nausea, dreadful headache. 

Now, I've still got to go to Kroger to restock on a few small things like bottled water, etc. I would rather spend the entire day in bed sleeping whatever is ailing me off.

Otherwise, brunch was delicious and Oakland cemetery was fun - perfect day for walking around outside. Music was not so great this year but there were some good vendors of handmade jewelry, period clothing, and something I had not seen before - heirloom plants being sold that were propagated from some of those in the landscape of Oakland Cemetery. The flowers and shrubs they had for sale were beautiful and I was very excited at the idea of taking some of those heirloom plants with me to add to the landscape of a new home. 

I am looking forward to having a more productive day tomorrow when I feel better. 

Regional Delicacies

Interesting because I never know what is specific to the south in relation to products like food, drinks, etc. An old friend phoned me last week to ask if I knew how to make pimento cheese because no one in New Jersey or New York sells it or knows what it is. He also asked if my mother had a favorite recipe for it. 

We are moving away from Atlanta next month (during my favorite season of Halloween *sigh*) and I wonder if what I will miss other than people and what I need to stock up on before I leave, even though so many things appear to be universal, at least on a national or regional level. 

I've never missed anything Southern while in places like New York or Paris France, but I've never set up a house or gone grocery shopping there either. 

I know you can't find peanut butter in France, but I can live without that - or substitute tahini. 

I have, however, done grocery shopping in Los Angeles and know there are regional equivalents to most things, although I think Atlanta has better restaurants. 

missing too many things

After a long holiday weekend of missed opportunities last week and this week, I've kinda pulled away from my Facebook checking and posting for a while, in shame and self-pity.

Meanwhile, every conversation with my mother is increasingly unpleasant. She really is impossible to argue with when it comes to the move to North Carolina in the near future. She even asked me to move in with her, at the retirement community, to avoid going out of state. I can't seem to make her understand that this is impossible. I can't make her accept that the NC move is the only logical thing to do now - for all I know, it might be a positive change if I can find something to do with myself there. I get a small amount of freelance and temp work in Atlanta but it's far from enough to make a living for myself. There is no retirement fund parachute since all my accounts disappeared when my father died and the recession hit all at once. No. North Carolina is the only answer and her escalating disagreements with me make me dread every conversation with her.

After the move, when it's all said and done, I hope that it will be easier to talk to her. For now, I can't deal with it.

I am extremely thankful that MonsterMustDie has a very good job that is only going to be better at the new location. I am thankful that he is willing to support me entirely after the move. I am not looking forward to being a "kept woman" but I am thankful he is willing to take care of me and I hope I can make his investment in me worthwhile.

rainy weekend

We've had thunder storms, briefly, nearly every day this past week. All this after  weeks so hot and dry that everything outdoors was crunchy and wilted.

We met my mother for dinner yesterday at Babette's Cafe, a favorite restaurant for all of us. Great food every time, consistently, and Marla always remembers everything about me and is very friendly when we are there. Usually, we meet for brunch at Babette's Cafe but its been a long time since we met up late enough for dinner and both my mother and myself were desiring a true dinner with a more diverse menu at wine o'clock. I pushed for making reservations as early as possible so no one would have to drive home after dark. I had forgotten about the rain forecast for nearly every day this week. Usually, storms don't last long here. They're over in less than an hour and it seems as if the more intense the weather is, the shorter the duration.

We had a great meal, as usual. I had the chicken and fresh artichokes because I wanted something hardier and more filling than a vegetarian entree. Mother was planning on the halibut, her favorite summer dish at Babette's, until all of us watched a plate go by with the steak and a nice pile of fresh onion rings on of it. She had steak. MonsterMustDie had the veal piccata. Mom and I had fresh blueberry tart for desert while MonsterMustDie had a snifter of Drambuie.

We worked at keeping the conversation light and not dwelling too much on the upcoming move to North Carolina. Mother doesn't want us to go. I don't want to go either but, as we both tried to explain, relocating to North Carolina for John's employer really does seem to be the only viable option for us. It looked like things were going to turn to tears so I switched the subject to my niece's wedding in February. Then I switched it again to health issues of other family members and any gossip I could pull up.

All went well from there until it was time to leave. At the time we paid and relinquished our table, an evening thunder storm rolled in and we sat for 45 minutes in the front of the restaurant across from the tiny bar, waiting and hoping it would slack off soon. I was seeing daylight, another very important factor in my mother making it home safely, fading as we waited for a break in the rain. It was suggested that one of us could drive her home in her car while the other followed, which seemed like a good option to me, but she would not hear of it so we finally made it out into the night as soon as the wind died down a bit with the rain still heavy. She looked like she wanted to cry but she absolutely would not let us take her home. So we had no choice but to let her go alone into a rainy night. Once we got home, I phoned her house every 15 minutes to see if she'd made it home yet. (Why? I don't know. I can't think of anything we could do if we did not hear from her of if she didn't make it home. It's just that need to know she was okay.) I finally got hold of her about 90 minutes after all of us left the restaurant. She had a long slow drive but she made it home all right. I believe this is the last time we will meet her for dinner so far from her home or in the evening. 

We are buying a house in North Carolina and moving soon.

MonsterMustDie is on his way to North Carolina to look at houses for sale again.
I am staying home for this trip. I felt it was important for me to be there to at least attempt to put in my opinion on some of the houses being viewed and, hopefully, guide his decision-making a bit in the future. However, there are so many antique malls and flea markets he wants to visit coming and going, it is easier for me to avoid the death march this time and allow him to indulge his passion alone.

It looks like we'll be moving to High Point, North Carolina some time after October. I am strongly pulling for us to be absolutely in Georgia through one last Halloween season. I'd like to enjoy one more Pumpkin Carving Party and night of trick-or-treaters and awesome Halloween House decor before leaving all of my small joys behind.

Stuff I found today:

Remember when National Hot Dog Day actually meant something. Commercialization dilutes true meaning of this holiday.
— Jim Taylor (@jimtaylor) July 23, 2014

more frustration dreams

Last night was filled with more frustration dreams but for once it was not about work.

 I dreamed about tech fail situations and funerals. I dreamed I had to make it to two memorial services and I had to depend on a navigation device to get to the locations of both. The device kept refusing to take my input on the first location and it refused to remember the street or number on the second location. Both events were filled with people I did not know but there seemed to be a lot of people who know who I was. I was able to get a ride to the first service but no one there knew how to get to the second service and no one else could get my navigation device to work either.

looking for mailbox money

Last week, I had an interview for a job close to home that would be work I am so familiar and confident with, I could do it blindfolded with one arm tied behind my back but I have yet to hear back from my interviewer on whether I get to come back or if they have already chosen someone else. It is a job I would really love to have.

I still am also still waiting some mailbox money for my time working as a graphic designer for a film company but more work is starting to drip in this week. Monday was full of extras work in the city. Tuesday was spent with Mme Perry working on music promotion and planning podcast production.
Next week, I have a temp gig starting. It is a bit far from here but the drive is north, away from the city, so I fully expect an easy commute. Fingers are crossed for that one.

Here is a little something I found on the web that is both amusing and oh so true to life. I know people like this.


Update:
The temp agency let me know this afternoon that the new job has been delayed and will now start on July 9, rather than June 30.

Summer Solstice

Last night’s party to celebrate the Summer Solstice was much more successful than I expected. Despite the heat and early thunderstorm, we had a big crowd show up a bit late and a good night filled with art, food, drink, and a special performance on an electronic instrument by John Butler.


Now, I have plenty of still-cold sangria made by John Eaton. Thinking Indian take-out would go very well with it If I could find someone to share it with today. We also still have a tent with mosquito netting set up in the back yard.

maybe moving to HighPoint NC

Looks like there is a possibility that we might be moving to High Point, North Carolina.

I am still unemployed and just make enough on rent from my condo to squeak by on rent here and my condo fees. This week, MonsterMustDie's employer has hinted at planning an entire shut down of the location in Atlanta in favor of cheaper show room facility in NC near their new North American production facility. At first, he thought that they would keep a sales office open in Atlanta that he could work out of in a customer service and support job.

We are too old to negotiate on anything work-related. If he loses this job, there will be no other employer willing to take him on at his age. We're both too old to be hired by anyone and too young and poor to retire so if they are willing to keep him employed in exchange for relocating, that is what we will have to do.
It's not a done deal yet - we don't know if he can keep his job or if he absolutely must work from North Carolina, but it's looking that way this week.

As for myself, I don't foresee any changes in my employment but I think NC would be a much less competitive environment for graphic design. However, the economy there is more depressed than here. Thus the company, Buzzi, is already being heralded as a fantastic gain by the Governor and Mayor. The city of High Point, I am told, is unbelievably excited about their manufacturing facility and showroom opening there.

late spring weekend

The weather is incredible but the summer heat is already getting me down. I wilt to the point of dizziness. There are outdoor events I am avoiding, like Tunes From The Tombs, if there is no escape from the sun.

 Last night, we went to a duo-birthday party at the home of Thomas and Lindsay, in Marietta. The theme was an Enchanted Garden Birthday Party and it was a great evening. They had obviously spent a lot of days clearing, landscaping and decorating their back yard for an outdoor party. Tiny lights were everywhere, in lamps on tables, in a sculptural fire pit of painted logs standing as vertical pillars with candles on top of them, strung overhead from the house to the trees, and lighting tents in the back yard. Low seats and tables were made from wood palettes that had been a smoothed and painted with short legs attached to make tables and pillows placed on top to create seats. Friends had worked to put out a spread of food and booze on the back porch and, as usual for them, there was a digital photo booth set up for guests. Fortunately, the rain held off and it was a clear night. I mostly sat at tables in back, talking with friends, and MonsterMustDie walked around catching up with people he'd not seen in a while, since he rarely goes out with me to these things. One of the best things for guests were paper fans that were placed on some tables. Loved the paper fans and used one most of the night that kept me comfortable. We got home around 1:00 a.m.

MonsterMustDie woke up feeling a bit delicate this morning. We both took naps at some point during the day. He worked on sculptures in the afternoon while I cleaned, prepped food & did some laundry and we had Cindi & John over for dinner in the evening that featured grilled sausages from Pine Street Market and sauteed lambs quarters that were on sale at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market. We had fresh baguette with sliced radishes and salted butter, also from the Farmers Market. Just the right end to the day - good fresh food with good company & fun conversation. It makes me a lot happier to have an active weekend with stimulating social activity.

Tomorrow, he has another very early day at work and I have dinner with the girls.

Sometimes, I choose to be in a relationship just to keep other men away from me.

Happy Mother's Day

Chaz invited me to the filming of Zombie Juice starting today at 6:00 a.m. but, since I am not committed to that (no one expects me or returned my messages on the project), I have decided to keep today open for other things - like a possible visit with my mother. 

After a long work week (which I greatly enjoyed but it wore me out) I slept in this morning and i have been trying to phone or email my mother for the last two days, thinking I should probably make plans with her today or  at least reserve the day for her. I guess she's booked elsewhere this weekend.

Now, I've got to decide how to spend the rest of this Sunday. 

This Week

Friday ended a 5-day job working for my friend Carrie on a film production. It was great to have a very busy work week. I was quite tired by the end of every 10-hour day but it was exhilarating  to work for people who appreciated what I was doing and complimented me every day on my work and how much I could do. Work is good and makes me happy when it is in a positive environment. This week has been great. 

The only down was that Friday, Carrie and her staff (me) were to be replaced by new people from California. Oh well... it was good while it lasted and I met some nice people. 

Packing for Chicago trip

MonsterMustDie is going on a business trip this week for NeoCon. Ellie cat finds his suitcase very cozy.