my first inamorato

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Last summer, I got an email from someone I hadn't heard from in years. It was a big surprise. He was my first. Yes, that first.

I was flooded with memories and feelings and I took a few days before I responded. I pulled out all the letters and cards that Jim had sent me so many years ago. No, they were not tied with a ribbon.

We had met on New Year's Eve at a party given by a friend. Jim was travelling through after being home for the holidays. He walked me home. He stayed the night, only because I felt sorry for him. His other option was sleeping on the floor at his friend's place. He asked me to dinner a couple of days later. My first date and I was 25. Pathetic.

Jim was in the Navy and stationed in Pensacola and drove back to his base. He sent me a birthday card. Sometimes he called. We were talking on the phone the night the Americans attacked the Iraqis. Jim lived off the base so he did not hear about the attacks. He was upset that he was still in training and would miss the action.

Jim sent goofy cards with long notes. A few weeks later, he asked if I would meet him in Nashville for a weekend. He said it was about halfway between Chicago and Pensacola. He drove, I flew. Jim picked me up from the airport and took me directly to the hotel suite. He had already checked in and had set the condoms on the nightstand.

I was nervous and could have used a few drinks. Jim offered a back rub. I didn't know what to expect. Not so much the sex, I saw movies, I read books, but the being together too. Here we were, two people in a town for essential one date after another. My dating experience was the one dinner we shared 2 months ago. How does one date for a whole weekend?

We had lunch at a Chinese place where he asked me to pay. I was a bit taken back. I believe in chivalry and men to pay. But I paid, it was fair. We went to see a movie, The Doors. We went to a margarita bar. I don't remember dinner, maybe we ate at the bar? Maybe I just drank. The second night was a repeat of the first without the tension, thanks to alcohol.

After breakfast, Jim dropped me off at the airport and drove back to base.

I saw Jim two weeks later. He was transferred to Whidby Island and drove through Chicago. He spent the nights with me and the days with his friends.

to be continued...

chips

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Ryan was looking in the pantry this morning. I asked him what he was looking for and he said that he couldn't find any chips. He stopped eating chips months ago and I stopped buying them since I am trying to cut out the junk. I asked him if he wanted me to buy some and he said yes and that he wanted the wavy chips that we used to buy.

This evening, Ryan asked if we got the chips but we were busy and didn't go out. I asked if he wanted to go now and he said yes because it was still light out. I asked if he wanted to go to the new CVS around the corner, and did he want to walk. Yes! He has never walked to the store that he can remember. He was too young to recall that we used to live much closer to the shops but now we have 2 miles or more to get anywhere. That is until they opened the new CVS in January.

Ryan and I started walking. He was so excited and keyed up. Such a new adventure. It's a good 15 minutes walk to the store. We were rewarded with Buy 1 Get 1 Free! We got 2 bags of wavy chips and headed home.

Ryan didn't want to eat any chicken but did eat one piece. At least chips are a good source of iron.

pms

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PMS is here. I like that the term includes so many different symptoms. The only thing that is for certain is that it is before your cycle.

Bloating & cramps? No, not really. At least nothing different from the bloating and cramps I get from eating broccoli, onions or cabbage. And I tend to eat broccoli 3-4 days a week so I don't notice a difference.

Moodiness & irritability? Umm, ask my siblings and they will say that is my me everyday. Siblings are a great cause of moodiness and irritability. Yes, I am little more short on patience at this time.

Food cravings. Well, of course. I am trying to eat more healthy and seem to crave food all the time. During PMS, I crave more junk carbs like chips and pizza.

Brittle nails? I don't think this is a usual symptom but it is for me. I have weak nails to begin with but they seem to all break during this time.

Lethargic & easily distracted. Hell yes! I was to do nothing but read and play solitaire on my DS. And eat chips. And with some strange quirk of genes I fell more energetic as soon as Aunt Flo shows up. I know, weird.

More weirdness, I am having no problem finding motivation to walk. Just don't ask to me to do the laundry. Meanwhile, my dad has started taking prednisone for his cough and now has these bursts of energy which involves mopping floors and cleaning carpets. And to do this he uses lots of smelly chemicals which leave me more moody and irritable.

confessions of an ugly stepsister

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Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel by Gregory Maguire


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an interesting take on the Cinderella story. Here we learn about the step-sisters and although they are "ugly" they aren't the mean things we see in Disney's version. They are victims of circumstance trying to survive. Though we do see that their mother is not as kind as one is led to believe in the beginning of the tale.

Maguire sets his version in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 17th century. The country has gone through reformation and has turned away Catholicism in favor of Calvinism. Dutch painters are many and vying for commissions. Also, the tulip is king until the collapse of the market.

Though this was written several years ago, I can't help but draw parallels to our current financial crisis. What will people do in order to survive?

I really enjoyed Maguire's spin on the story. There is enough of the original kept to make us think that maybe this is really the way the story went. In the eBook, the original fairy tale is included for comparison.

I like how the author cane weave a fairy tale with political commentary and make it all enjoyable.


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