Rumors of My Death...

"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated" -- Mark Twain

or

"I'm not dead yet!" -- Tammy Wynette

Ok.. that second one isn't really a quote from Tammy Wynette.. it was from a Saturday Night Live skit that always made me chuckle. Anyway, it has been two months since I've sat down to this blog. I know my millions of fans must be wondering as to my status. There's no way I can cover the time completely, but here's a glimpse of Rose's June and July, in no particular chronological order.

First, I turned 40 on July 22nd. Age is all in the mind, and I have a childlike mind, so this child did not have a problem turning 40. However, age also seems to be in the knees, and I definitely don't have the knees of a 40 year old. Possibly a 60 year old. My birthday started out with balloons, Star Wars thingees hanging over my desk and "Over the Hill" boppers for me to wear. Also, the people I work with brought in a veritable smorgasbord of goodies. Greg said that if entrance into Heaven depended on how much food is brought in for your birthday, that I was guaranteed entrance! A nice thought. :) Steve, was out of the office, but he emailed me that my gift would be delivered later in the day by "visitors." No, he wasn't predicting an alien invasion, his wife and twin toddlers brought me in my birthday loot. From Steve, a gift card to Absolute Beauty because I like to go there for pedicures because they have this sinful chair that you sit in whilst your tootsies are being pampered, and I love my tootsies. Oh, and from the girls, a pair of pink fuzzy bunny slippers. They are so soft and adorable. Gizmo attacked them when I was wearing them later that evening. I think it's because they have whiskers, fake though they may be. Sorry, I don't have a picture of the slippers. :)

Steve had a BIG arbitration the week before my birthday (actually it ran over into the week OF my birthday, too!), and the two weeks before that, I was working 60 hour weeks. The OT was very nice, especially since my car and renters insurance came due in August, but I was so tired when I got home at night, sometimes at 9pm, that I'd go straight to bed. I swear one night I came home and the cats acted like I was a stranger. Sort of hurt my feels... but then I was so tired, I didn't care all that much! Finally the OT was over and I was able to relax, and things started to return to normal for Rose when all of a sudden... you guessed it. I got sick. I shoveled down the echinacea and the Tylenol like it was going out of style, but today is day 12 and I'm just now to the point where I feel human.

Mixed into all of that time was a family reunion. I had a really good time. Me, my sister Haley and several of our cousins just sat around telling stories. The food was good and the weather could NOT have been better.

One Saturday I drove up to Terrible Haute and met Haley and her daughter, my niece, Hollian for lunch. We went to Moggers which was originally owned by Hollian's great, great something. After a wonderful burger, Hollian and I came back down to Eville. Actually I took Hollian to my parents house where she stayed for a few days to help them around the place. Hollian is an IU sophomore who has no clue what she wants to be when she grows up. I'm told that at one time I wanted to be a gas station attendant.. but then the self-serve gas station came along and spoiled my hopes and dreams. Sigh. After a couple of days working around the ol' homestead, Hollian came into the big city and stayed with me for a couple of nights. I have satellite and she only has two channels (Fox and PBS, I think) at her home, so she had fun watching the Colbert Report on Comedy Central and an I Love the '80's marathon on Vh-1. Poor child.

When the week was over, Mom, Hollian and I drove up to Haley's house partly to return the child home and partly to see her sister Brynn (high school senior, this fall) as the eponymous Fiddler in Shelby County Community Theatre's production of Fiddler on the Roof. Brynn did a marvelous job! We were very proud.

Again, this does not begin to cover my last two months... in there I've seen The Dark Knight three times (and am willing to go with anyone who hasn't been able to see it yet... :) and I saw Mamma Mia (thoroughly enjoyed it, despite Pierce Brosnan's NOT being a great singer) and I read the new Janet Evanovich book, Fearless Fourteen, along with several others. Oh, and I didn't even mention the Golden Poop that Haley got me for my birthday! Sigh.

Oh well, I'm back, baby! So everyone can relax. All is right with the world and Rose will continue to blog. Catch ya later!