— Damn, it’s hot.
— Having just spent an entire week where I took lengthy swims maybe 5 times a day, I have decided I need to have more swimming in my life. So 2 days ago I joined the Y. I’m excited to get started and there’s a class every Wed. night called “AQUA JOG” and I am INCREDIBLY intrigued. I’m going this Wednesday.
— Had a great girl group last night – and drove from Englewood Cliffs to Livingston New Jersey to get there – my first experience (for realz) on the New Jersey turnpike/freeway system – and I nearly had a heart attack. I’ve driven on the damn 401 in LA and wasn’t as confused as I was yesterday. There was one moment when I actually got frightened, like if I made a mistake I would find myself in an industrial wasteland with scary gang-bangers watching me drive by and I would be unable to correct my error. Ha. But I made it to my destination – although a 45 minute drive took me over 2 hours, due to traffic on the 280. But girl group was worth it. I need my lady friends. I love those women. We’ve been meeting once a month (off and on) for 8 years now. They are dear friends, and touching base with them is a great relief. We all get to talk – we take turns – we contribute, listen, laugh hysterically, tell stories to fill everyone in … we save stuff up for girl group. Oh, and Jill’s husband gave me directions to get home that were so kick-ass that they should be given an award. I was dreading my ride home – but it was easy, simple, and he cut out most of the confusion I had experienced getting there. Beautiful.
— I am still reading War and Peace but I have so much work to do offline that I’ve only been able to read a page or two a day (since I got back from vacation).
— Thank you, David, for putting in my air conditioner. You are a dear friend, and now that the real dog days have hit – I am SO GLAD to have it.
— Hearing Tim Gunn say, “The judges will think you all are slackers!” to the new group of contestants on Project Runway made me so happy. I did love the winning dress – I thought it was retro, cute, girlie – and very very creative. I mean, vacuum cleaner bags! And coffee filters!!
I LOVED all the comments about the first dude eliminated and his outfit. “It looks like a nurse who’s about to go on a murdering spree.”
— I was feeling a little bit lost and forlorn the other night. So I perked myself up by sitting in bed, laptop out, and watching, oh, about TWO STRAIGHT HOURS of Judge Judy on Youtube. I do not think it is possible to love her more than I do. I find her so refreshing. I felt so much better after spending that time in her presence. I felt like: Okay. I am making the right decisions. They do not necessarily feel good, and I am NOT having an easy time of it, but I am taking responsibility for myself, and I am not a complete and utter moron. God, I love her. I want her to approve of me.
— I’m a little bit in love with my dentist. I am getting a ton of work done in the next year (nothing major – just replacing all my fillings, and getting a mouthguard because apparently I’m “a grinder”. Who knew? I mean, it makes sense because I am, hands down, one of the most stressed-out people I know. So of course I lie asleep at night grinding away. Of course.) … and we set up a plan, for me to get the work done gradually, so it wouldn’t be financially prohibitive for me – and he’s so calm and gentle and funny (with a toe-curling Australian accent) that I feel safe in his presence. Awesome dentist. If you live in the New York area, and want a recommendation for a dentist, please shoot me an email. He’s the best!
“I am still reading War and Peace but I have so much work to do offline that I’ve only been able to read a page or two a day”
Always wondered what it would be like to read a big, thick book like that one a page or two at a time. Probably would take a little more fortitude than I could muster. Good Luck with it.
Rob – the good thing about it is that the chapters are quite short. Yes, there are 10,000 of them but so far each chapter is, on average, about 4 pages long. So you don’t get TOO lost in mid-stream, you know?
I might have to try that with one of the books in my bedroom corner that I had to put down. And you underestimate me. For instance, The Old Curiosity Shop had my eyes glazed at least 50 times. I started it in 2000. I’m already a third of the way through here 8 years later. :)
First, New Jersey roads are terrible to navigate! Bad signage, missing signage, signs posted just AFTER where you are supposed to turn, signs that tell you to turn for the freeway, that never seem to take you to one… I have several friends that I visit in the garden state, and if I deviate even slightly from the route I know, I add a half hour to my travel time just being lost/finding my way back…
Also, welcome back to the swimming world. It’s a great place to be!
Hey- I, too, am in the process of replacing all my fillings!! The strange thing is, neither of my kids have EVER had a cavity. Look around at all the little kids today- like, NO ONE has fillings! Last week my little nephew (4 years old) looked RIGHT INTO my mouth when I was laughing at something and very seriously said,’whoa…what ARE those THINGS on your teeth???’ I felt so skanky…
Beth – hahahahahaha Skanky!!
The new fillings are going to be “teeth colored” too so I won’t have any more skanky black marks in my mouth. Hooray!
Oh, I gots me some of those, too. It’s the OLD ones that freak out the little kids!!
If “Aqua Jog” is anything like the Water Aerobics I took a few years ago, it should be fun. Lots of people of different ages (and ability levels) and most of them have a really good attitude.
I’m really self-conscious about my body and I hate wearing a swimsuit (because I’m kind of, well, fat), but I felt OK with it going to that class – they were mostly older women and they were all “Don’t apologize for it: make the most of it!” Hahahaha.
ricki – oh, that’s sweet! I love that!! The great thing about the Y is that, you know, it’s a Y – so it’s a real community, all ages, very laid back (I mean, they have great yoga classes and ballet classes and weight lifting and stuff – but it’s all ages and types and sizes in all of it – so I like that) … so I’m excited to check it out! Swimming is great exercise – so I really want to get into it again.
“Teeth colored” fillings means no mercury amalgam, yes? I hope so. Good luck.
i just got a mouthguard for at night, too; my dentist can’t decide if i just clench my teeth in my sleep, or if i clench and grind, but it’s apparently why i had to have an emergency root canal this past semester.
however, the hygienist i had suggested looking at a drugstore [[wallgreens et alia]] for a bruxism mouthguard that you heat and cast a mold of your upper teeth yourself, to see if i would even be able to sleep with something like that in my mouth. that way, i’d only be testing out 20-30 dollars worth instead of paying 200+ for the dentist office to make me something that might not even work for me.
if you’re interested, i’ve been trying a “the doctor’s nightguard” and so far, it’s worked pretty well for me.
just letting you know..
Hi,
Found your blog last week and I really enjoy it. I read Jincy Willet’s “National Book Award…..” and really liked it. Good recommendation.
Regardless, I’m a recovering Los Angeleno–just spent the last three years living in Chico, CA (100 miles north of Sacramento), and now am in the Monterey area (escaping fires and stuff), and I just wanted to let you know there is no 401 freeway; however, there is a 405, and I won’t drive it for love or money…ok, ok, to go to LAX, but that’s it!! I swear!
Sláinte Mhaith
Jules
That’s right! 405!! Oops! Driving on that thing was like wrestling with a giant anaconda.
Sláinte!
I am soooo happy Project Runway is on again. I don’t care for tan-boy. STOP TANNING, TAN-BOY!
Heh. Ladybug and I totally love Judge Judy. We call it “Bad Life Choices Theatre.” Part of me wishes that we could cross her with that “Intervention” show and let her get to people before they bring cases to her. People would be happier.