I swear it's not what you think

I donated blood earlier this week. The vein in my left arm is out there for all the world to see, whereas the one in my right arm is very shy. Without fail, they opt for my outgoing, sociable left vein, with no problems. It was a bad sign when the lady this time looked at it and said, "Hmm...that's really near the surface, we might not want to use it." Well she used it, and now I've got this awesome track mark accompanied by a huge bruise that has gotten bigger every day.

So for the record, it's not a real track mark--I generally shoot up between my toes.

I took a vacation day to go shopping?

Yep. I took a vacation day today, and spent most of my hard won freedom shopping in Robinson. Nope, it's not a ridiculous head start on Christmas, it's moving out. There's something weird about walking into a store, asking, "What do I need?" and answering, "Um...pretty much everything."

Indeed, four months after the breakup that hit everyone else a lot harder than it hit us, this is the second time in five years that I've re-outfitted my entire existence. Well, that's not entirely fair this time around; I do have a fair amount of stuff. Last time, I pretty much had my clothes, $50, and my job...and shortly thereafter a credit card bill. This time is not nearly so start-from-scratch.

But it makes me think--these days, wedding registries and housewarming parties are useless. When two people get hitched, they likely already live together and have their place furnished, or live on their own and have two of everything. What we really need are breakup registries, because THAT's when someone needs to buy everything under the sun. Maybe I'll pitch that idea to Target and Amazon and see what they think.

Kids are awesome

I was at my parents' house yesterday to celebrate the 17th birthday of one of my nephews. (I have a nephew who is 17? Scary. Oh wait...I also have one who's almost 19 and one who's 20...) Getting to see my sister's kids is always a huge joy. My sister and the oldest three lived in my parents' house a lot when I was in middle and high school, so in a big way they are like my own kids. There's just something about the way kids are genuinely happy to see someone they love that always makes my day. There's none of the adult bull that you acquire as time goes by...they know they are happy to see you, and they let you know it, and to hell with whatever else. The simplicity is refreshing and just plain awesome.

When I was there, two of the girls were using my sister's cell phone and asked what my number was. I gave it to them, not thinking much of it. Later on driving home, I was feeling a little bit blue, when out of nowhere I got a text message from a number I didn't recognize. It turned out to be the oldest of that clan, the soon-to-be-19-year-old, who has been in Georgia with his dad for over a year. His sisters had passed along my number and he just wanted to say hi. Leave it to kids to be so thoughtful without any thought.

Bittersweet summer vacation

Tonight was the last Ice Maidens class for the season. For those of yinz who don't know, I help teach a women's learn-to-play ice hockey class on Sunday nights for a good part of the year. (For those of yinz who do know...and are women...I've probably tried to sign you up. Hehe...)

The Ice Maidens program is by far one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, helping people learn a sport that can seem so inaccessible if you don't know where to look, especially for women. My absolute favorite moment is after we scrimmage at the end of the first class of each session, seeing the excited faces of women who just played ice hockey for the first time ever. I enjoy every unique person who comes through that class, and get a serious high every time someone learns something new or tackles another obstacle.

So the last class is always a little sad because I know it will be months before I get to experience these things again, but at the same time, I know it's a necessary break. Thoughts necessarily turn to summer things like baseball, biking, and skin open to the sun rather than covered by pounds of gear. And, the breaks from things that we enjoy help keep them fresh. When you truly love something, it is definitely a case of absence making the heart grow fonder, and not of out of sight out of mind.

So it's a bittersweet summer vacation. I know come the fall I will return with fresh vigor to happily pick on the people who I can tell haven't skated in three months.

This year, of course, had a little more meaning in that Cara, the head instructor for the class, is leaving for the snowier climes of upstate New York. Enough cannot be said for what Cara has done for this program, and I only hope that Stacy and I and whoever else is involved can keep that momentum going. Truly, women's hockey in Pittsburgh owes a great debt of gratitude.

Two questions...

1) Ever have one of those times when you realize you haven't been using your naturally given abilities for any good, and instead have spent the last seven years sitting in a cube like veal?

- and -

2) What is it about unexplored potential that plagues you and just leaves you wondering, what if...? I hate it when crap won't leave my brain.

Bring on the elements

I'm moving in two weeks to Regent Square, and have set myself the goal of barely using my car unless I really really really really really have to. I'll be about two miles from work, and between the Square, Point Breeze and Squirrel Hill, I'll be near all kinds of stores, restaurants etc., not to mention I'll have Frick and Schenley to go play in. I am excited to maintain as much of a car-free existence as possible--I've wanted this for YEARS. All of this, of course, is a huge reason why I chose to move there.

I'm so excited, in fact, that I started early. It's not feasible for me to go to full time bike transportation from my old apartment, but I've taken to bringing my bike to work and using it to run errands from my office. Of course, my last two times out have been less than smooth...witness my torn up leg last week (many thanks to my Pamela's family for letting me patch myself up) and now today, getting nice and drenched in this evening's thunderstorms.

Oh well. There's something bad ass about walking around with a blood-soaked makeshift bandage (still got that haircut goddamit), or realizing there's no point in hurrying because you're gonna get drenched anyway.