Grumpy Face

I stepped in gum.

I got myself out of the stupid, depressing motel room, and went downtown. And it was awesome - I found a blues festival (I didn't want to pay the $12 entry fee, so I sat outside the gates for about an hour, writing and listening), and then I just walked around. It was a perfectly pleasant evening, complete with sunset, cobble-stoned walkways, and burnt orange VW bugs.

And then I stepped in gum. I groaned, looked up, and caught a glance of myself in a shop window - and man... I was GRUMPY. I mean, really - my whole face was a huge freaking scowl.

And it was ugly.

So, I'm trying to wipe the shit-eating-frown off my face, and get on with my life.

But you know, it's been a crazy last couple of weeks, and I think I might be justifiably cranky this time around...

First, Alaska - which was AWESOME, but of course it can be exhausting to travel, especially for me, the reluctant tourist that would rather hang out with friends than go to the historic church or the new aquarium.

Then, Wednesday, fly into New Jersey, drive to Connecticut. Forget my journal on the plane.

Thursday, pack up all my summer stuff in Connecticut, drive to Philadelphia. Unpack into a new apartment. Get Princess Jasmine settled in her new home.

Friday, fly to Detroit. Rent a car, drive to Kalamazoo.

Saturday, audition in Kalamazoo - after first real sleep I've had since last Sunday night. Didn't advance. I hate auditions because they are pure bullshit, but no - I don't have a better system, and even if I did - no one would listen to me, because really - why should they?

Tomorrow, drive/fly to DC, Bike and Build starts. Ride bike from DC to Philadelphia (fundraising done, thanks so much all!), help with Rebuilding Together in Philadelphia.

Next Saturday night/Sunday morning - drive to Gloversville, NY to see boy.

And then it'll chill a little bit. I mean, boy and I are going to Lake Placid to volunteer for the IronMan, then we're going to Vermont, and then I'm going back to Gloversville, and then back to Vermont, and then down to NYC for the flute convention (yup. a flute convention.), and then I'll be able to move to Philadelphia for real - from one third floor apartment to another. Groan.

But... a lot of it will be with boy, and there will be time to hang out, and I'll be in places that inspire familiarity, instead of this constant feeling of displacement.

But yes, all these activities are great and I actually am excited and looking forward to every single day. It's just that in the midst of it all, I'm tired. I want to fall asleep with boy and wake up with my kitten purring next to me.

That'll all happen soon enough though, so for now? I'm smiling because the lacrosse boys are outside playing just for fun, and because I get to be on my bike for the next week, and because I'm pretty sure there will be some awesome church dinners along the ride.