it's only wednesday

but i think that in regards to this week, it’s safe to say ‘so far so good.’

in fact, it’s actually been a really good week.

first, there is work. for the first time in a long time i am actually starting to get excited about some of my upcoming events. not to mention that i have been really (dare i say it?) productive this week! i really work best when i am under pressure, with tight deadlines and impossible tasks. having dragged my feet for the last couple of months, i am finding it’s now do or die time, and i’m loving it. i’m getting so much accomplished, my creativity is sparked, and i’m feeling a little like my old work self again!

i have been desperate to get out of here before april, and my biggest event of the year, but now, i can’t imagine not being here for it.

we are holding it at the steven f. udvar-hazy center (the air & space satellite campus) and have settled on a mission: possible theme, complete with some of the most incredible decor you’ve ever seen, and our very own ‘ethan’ suspended from the ceiling serving drinks. the main band will perform next to the sr-71, and we’ll have a dj in the space shuttle hangar. this party is seriously going to kick.

i have the go-ahead to out source some of the tasks this year, which means, i may even bring a date! interested parties should submit applications with no less than five references;)

in other news, you may remember that i was asked to teach a class at the stake enrichment meeting being held in february. i reluctantly accepted, and those of you who know, will understand how difficult that was for me. i got more information today regarding the evening’s topic and my assignment. i had to laugh when i read that the scriptural theme for the evening: live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you (Alma 34:38). if you don’t understand why i find that so amusing, read my last post.

at any rate, my teaching assignment is: "get a handle on it: stress management."

i’m laughing again, and not sure if it is me that is supposed to be learning, or the class i will be teaching!

at any rate, the real highlight of the week thus far has been dinner with aaron and cindy. we have been trying unsuccessfully to get together for ages, but with work and sickness, and prior engagements, we couldn’t seem to make it work--until last night.

aaron and i have known each other for about 15 years. i’ve included this prom photo of the two of us, mostly because i think it will make him laugh. i was 15 in this pic, and i think aaron was 17? at the time, that was a pretty big deal, and i think he takes great pride in being the only boyfriend my dad ever pulled a gun on.

it’s probably fair to say that he was my first love (in that pure, yet overly dramatic way that you love someone when you are a sophomore in high school). during the last decade and a half, there have been times when we were closely in contact, and others when we got a little bit lazy. though i can’t speak for him, i think i’m safe in stating that we have both come to cherish the friendship that has developed and remained over all that time. hmmm. i guess that makes aaron my first love and my longest love. said love has taken on many variations, beginning with that high school puppy love, and evolving into a deep respect and care.

fortunately for everyone, aaron married an incredible woman, who impressed me the first time i met her. she is warm and accepting, and though very different from aaron, she is in every sense of the cliche, his other half. some people just fit, and it is largely due to their great relationship, and just how friggin’ cool she is, that aaron and i are able to continue the friendship evolution.

needless to say, i was excited to see them both. an evening with these two promises great conversation, lots of laughs, just the right amount of sarcasm, and bottle pointing--and it did not disappoint. not only that, but i was thrilled to learn that 2 1/2 year old caius, who apparently only likes blondes, was willing to make an exception for this brunette. and it was everything i could do not to kidnap him and take him home with me.

also worth noting is that aaron made me a deal last night. we have a mutual friend who writes and produces his own plays. aaron’s deal was that he would do a small part, if i would. which, i must admit, i’m considering--if only for the fact that it wold be great to see aaron on a stage again. and of course, i think the three of us together back in that environment, would bring no end of merry mayhem. i’m always up for a bit of that!

the evening did make me start to wonder whether i should consider blogging a bit less, as every time i started on a story, aaron’s response was ‘i know, i read your blog.’ sometimes i am concerned that i share too much, but in this one area at least, it comes more from my innate need to write than my need to share. this one-time english major doesn't really have another outlet (although i'm working on fixing that). hence, the justification for my innundation. perhaps, if all goes according to dream (no, not plan), i will be able to keep some thoughts a bit more closely guarded...more like a normal person.

at any rate, back to the subject at hand. there are some people you can not see for a long time, and when you do, you think ‘alright, this will tide me over for the next year,’ and there are others who make you think ‘man that was fun, when can we do it again?’ aaron and cindy definitely fall into the latter category, and now that i have an open invitation to ‘just show up,’ i won’t be letting so much time pass between our visits.

the rest of the week promises a steady decline, as i now have to begin preparing my lesson, but at least i started the week off right!


ps-aaron, why do i always feel like i am spelling cindy’s name wrong? am i?