......Baby It's The Guitar Man.

I have found that one of the things that takes me away from all my cares and woes is music. I can listen to anything for a short time and know if I will buy the song or entire CD. And lets face it, is there anything sexier then a guy playing an acoustic guitar?


Last night I went to Rams Head to see Griffin House. I am always amazed at the art of storytelling musicians possess. A broken heart always sounds better with an acoustic guitar to accompany it. And we all know that every love song was written just for us.


The best part of last nights concert was the opening act, Matthew Perryman Jones. He was an excellent musician that until last night I had never heard of. In between his 3rd and 4th song the guy at my table shouted out a request. I thought, "Oh great!! Why do I always sit at the table with the Bozo". Anyway.... Matthew and Josh carried on a conversation for the rest of the show. It was great, and of course it was just a cover for Matthew to look at me for the rest of the evening. "My Blog, My Fantasy". Apparently the song requested had not been played or thought of for 50 years, so he'd do his best. It was my favorite song of his set.


Matthew had a gift of storytelling that went far beyond his lyrics. In between songs his rapport with Josh and the rest of the audience was charming. He told us about one of his songs being used for a television show. He gathered all his family and friends to watch, in his words, "This awful teeny bopper show", and he never heard his song. Did he miss it? Did anyone else hear it? Then finally in the last 5 minutes of the show the song came on, and started playing, he gets all excited about hearing HIS SONG, then 30 seconds into it the star of the show jumps off a cliff, the audience roared with laughter. After his set he came by the table and talked to Josh until Griffin's show started. I left with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.

Warmer Climates

Luckily for me Tom dislikes cold weather as much as I do, so in November we headed to Orlando for a long weekend. Then in December off to Cancun. We were total tourists, snorkeling, parasailing and I actually took a scuba lesson. Our hotel had a pool that was 18 ft deep and was designed to look like a Disney attraction. All sort of faux coral and colorful fish. It made the scuba a relaxing and pleasurable experience, but I'm sure that was partially because I wasn't worried about Jaws swimming around the corner. We'll see if I take lessons at home.

She's Back!!!!!

I have no excuses.... Rachel and Sara with 3 children each seem to be able to keep up with their blogs, so even if I could come up with an excuse it wouldn't really mean much. Suffice it to say, I am now going to make more of an effort. I mean some people hang on every word I print, how must they have felt when the blogging came to a stand still in August. To one and all I apologize.

Now a quick catch up.

In October I biked from Charleston to Savannah with my friend Susan. The South is truly gentile. I loved Charleston, the homes, the parks, the history, all breathtaking.Beaufort was another charming stop along the way, but it was Savannah that sang to me. All the ancient trees with Spanish moss was like something straight out of "Gone With the Wind".

It was another wonderful bike trip.

Hike Much?

We are on day 4 of our trip and we are in the White Moutains of New Hampshire, and I pretty much want to sleep.

Tom crushed me in 3 rounds of ping-pong. Are any of you good at table tennis? That's kinda a pussy game ... don't you think?

I can kick major butt in Foosball, but ping pong not so much. Anyway we hiked our butts off.

May I just tell you I don't mind a hike, but when I have to lead and I am thrashing through spider condos, it is totally yucky. I could never date spider man, the webs are so icky, and you know there is a poisonous brown spider out there somewhere. Other than that, I'm good..

BFFFFF

Tom and I have truly become BFF's here in Maine. I have meet his Mother and oldest brother, and all this as friends. Have you ever been an ex-lover to your best friend? It's a little touchy, but if you work it right, its magic. A lot of my friends think I'm nuts dealing with all the nonsense that I have, but you know what, I'm okay with it. He makes me laugh, and when my plate is full I will push it away.

ACADIA

Okay! I have been to all 50 states and Alaska, bar none, is my favorite. I want my ashes thrown over Mulnomah Fall, Oregon. Kris and Kathy are in charge of that, and I mean from the tippy-top, Kris can do it.

Maine is yummy in the summer. The air is breathable, the sky is blue, and the water is cold and swimmable. It makes you feel alive, but I'm there in July. I do love being alive in July.

Maine Man

Tom and I had planned our trip to Maine long before the CC nonsense started. I told him if he had any intentions toward Sally, traveling to Maine with me would not be in his best interest. I told him this as a friend, that is what we are now, friends.

.....You Pull Me Back In

I can't remember when the last time I told you about where I was in my life. We all know when things are going well we can not wait to tell one and all about it. Tom is still a part of it, whether it be large or small. When last heard from I was CC'd accidentally by his girlfriend. OMG!! How in the corn bread hell did she get my email? Tom hasn't a clue? anyway... It was not pretty, but I of course rose above all the ugliness. Holy Moly... there was some ugliness. I should copy and paste so you know what I have known for some time, but Hell.. I know he'll love me sooner or later.. NOT.

Don't Be Afraid.

Why is "LOVE" so scary to some. I never worry about telling my friends that I love them. I don't think I've ever finished a phone conversation with Kris without saying "I love you". Life is short, love means different things. I love the sunshine, I love the color yellow, I love the smell of microwave popcorn. The Webster noun description is... strong affection for another out of kinship or personal ties. Holy Moly!! That would include all of Craven County, NC for me. Anybody who reads this post must list at least five loves.
My 5, in no particular order are (not counting Harper and Scout)....
1. Cuddling
2. Mac&Cheese
3. A good bike ride
4. Roller Coasters
5. Massage

I love all of you who read this.

Friends

There is no way one can get through life without making acquaintances.

I have so many that if combined it would easily rival the NY white pages. But then there are the special friends, real friends, that come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Aside from my 2 sisters my "REAL" friends are so rare I could count them on one hand. These are the friends that come into your life and leave you a better person. One such friend just came into town for a very short visit. Donna had just spent a week with her sisters in Nashville. In order for her to get back to Florida she had a 2 hour layover in Baltimore. YIPPEEE!!!

I have another such friend from high school, her name is Valerie. She is someone who I can be away from for 102 years, meet at a reunion, and never skip a beat. We knew each other long before e-mail, Skye,and anything else technology might provide. There have been marriages, divorce,children, death. We are friends, we listen, we DO NOT JUDGE. That's what makes us friends, and not God. I have often given pieces of my heart to people, only my friends have pieces of my soul. Kris, Kathy, Valerie and Donna have all my love.

Couch Surfing.com

About 2 years ago I was doing a bike trip in Vermont. It started in Burlington on a Sunday, and I wanted to go up a day early so I could look around Burlington a little more than the bike tour allotted. That weekend just happened to be homecoming weekend, parents weekend and every other weekend that Burlington had to offer. The bottom line was there were no rooms to be had unless you were booking for the entire weekend, which brings me to "Couch Surfing.com".
I had heard about couch surfing on a radio station that I listen to, so I thought "what the heck".

After filling out all the necessary blanks I decided to just go up the day the tour starts, and forgot all about it.

6 months later I got an email from a gentleman in Wisconsin who had a son at the Naval Academy, and was coming in for a weekend to see him, did I mind if he crashed on my couch. I just happened to be leaving the 2nd day he was here, so I said sure. Well this year his son is graduating, so he asked if he could stay again, this time with 5 other people. I'm just a girl who can't say no. David and Disa arrived last Sunday, his sister and her husband came in on Thursday, and his other son came in on Friday. Did I mention my air conditioner's condenser went out?

Taking It As It Comes.

I know everyone has probably been on pins and needles about Tom and my outcome. It's been all over the place. He wrote an email saying he didn't think he wanted the "Hot and Heavy" (his words) kind of relationship that I did. I wrote him back and said, "What a relief. Once again we are on the same page". Then he asked if I wanted to go bike riding. The bottom line is we get along famously when we're together, so why not just keep having fun together. Last weekend we repeated our Eastern Shore ride. Memorial Day we rode on the C&O Canal through Harper's Ferry. The guy that we got to take this picture, handed the camera back and said, "some one's in love". I said, "Yeah, we just don't know who with". After a beautiful day together we headed back to Tom's. After riding in 98 degree weather, I hopped in the shower, when I got out Tom showed me his portrait wall in his bedroom. He has a photo of his 2 children, his brand new grand daughter, his family which include his mom, 2 brothers and 2 sisters, and 2, not 1 but 2, of he and I. They are photos that I have put on the blog, but to be on his bedroom wall, Holy Moly. I guess I should have been friends with him all along. Oh! did I mention he has invited me to Maine in July. Go Figure!! I am just taking it as it comes, and enjoying every minute of it.

One For The Road

The rest of Sunday evening was spent watching a movie, 127 Hours, with the proverbial elephant in the room. Tom tried to consol me, but it wasn't working. I told him that if he still had feelings for Sally, I didn't want to feel like if he stayed with me he would have always wondered, would of, could of, should of, I am better than that. I also told him that they split for a reason, it may be nice for a week, a month, maybe even longer, but the problems they had before would resurface unless somthing was done to resolve them.
The next morning I had a doctor appointment, and then we were going to play tennis. I for one thought hitting a tennis ball with all my might would do wonders. Early Monday morning, 5:00am, Tom's cell phone beeped to alert him and me that a text had just arrived. Guess who? I was getting up to walk the dogs anyway. When I got back Tom told me the gist of the texting. Sally, "Want to meet for coffee"? Tom, "I'm not at home". Sally, "WTF", nice, huh? While I get ready for my appoinment, the texting contiued and I was only getting tidbits from Tom. Uuuuggghhhh.
Tom takes me to my appoinment and is alone with the "text-mess" for the next hour. Well by the time my appoinment is over, instead of breakfast and tennis, Tom doesn't think he'll be very good company, drops me off at home and goes back to Gaithersburg, and I'm sure to Sally's. I am crushed, and call my sister right away.

Trouble in Paradise.

Throughout Tom and my relationship, Tom has been nothing but honest with me. It is one of my only stipulations, along with having nice teeth. From our very first date Tom talked about a previous relationship that had ended badly. It was with someone he thought he would spend the rest of his life with. I didn't ask alot of questions, because I wanted our time together to be about us, but if anything came up I was certainly there to listen.
Tom's daughter Lauren has recently had a baby, and when we were headed to Old Rag Mountain Lauren called and said that Sally (Tom's ex) wanted to come see the baby and give her a gift. Tom told Lauren that it was fine, but not to make the visit about him. I was in the car for the entire conversation, and knew then and there Sally wanted back in. People don't just don't do things like that unless they want to find a small opening, and from what I had heard about Sally, she was not doing it for kindness sake. There is nothing to worry about according to Tom.
Another few weeks go by and Tom tells me Sally wants to see him. She has some things of his, he has some thing of hers, including a spare car key and she needs closure. Well I am all for this. I think closure is going to be good for everyone involved, but I also know how wonderful Tom is and find it hard to believe Sally really wants closure. I sure hope Tom is right. This all happened on Saturday. Tom is scheduled to come over for dinner on Sunday, and tennis on Monday. I am a nervous wreck. Tom doesn't say anything all through dinner, and of course I am so upset inside, I can't eat. We sit down on the couch after an amazing dinner, and Tom tells me Sally wants him back. Surprise, surprise.

It Just Keeps Getting Better.

This week Tom and I are headed to the Eastern Shore to bike from Easton to Oxford. The round trip was only 20 miles and flat, so it was very easy. What a great day...we stopped at a grocery store, picked up lunch, and then found parking by a small beach in Oxford. Tom took out a blanket and we spread all our culinary delights out, and enjoyed the day and the company. I am telling you I am over the moon about this guy. I dated Terry, who was from Easton, for a year and never made it to Oxford. Anyway... At our half way point on the bike we stopped at a Golf Clubhouse, had some refreshments then started back. We laugh and talk like we are long lost

friends. We really do get along well.

The same week Tom asks me to go hiking with a group he hikes with. That's right 2 dates in one week, he even invites both Scout and Harper. OMG!! A man who likes my kids, can it get any better? After checking the route I decide just to take Scout. It's a 7 mile hike and I'm afraid at 9 years old, Harper would just stop having fun after a mile or 2. We had another wonderful day, this time with others included. I think it's easy to get along when it's just 2 of you, the real test comes when you see how well they play with others.

My Monday Man in March.

Tom and my first date was lunch at a great little restaurant on West Street called Luna Blue. He came into Annapolis from Gaithersburg, about an hour away. That is a little farther than my 25 mile radius request, but what the heck, it's only lunch. We sat and talked very easily for 2 hours. At the start of lunch Tom told me he was just getting over a cold, and I remarked, "good that takes the pressure off a first kiss, now we can enjoy lunch", and that's exactly what we did.

It is a little scary how much we have in common. We both drive Elements, our phone numbers end in the same four numbers, we both have a love of the outdoors, the list goes on and on.

Our next date was a 20 mile bike ride the following Monday. Afterwards we cleaned up, yes, separately, then headed to lunch. Another great day.

The following Monday, are you beginning to see a pattern here, I nicknamed Tom my "Monday Man", we meet in the middle at Columbia Mall, had breakfast at Panera's and talked for 5 hours. I think it is important to be able to communicate with someone, and the day at the Mall pretty much proved we had no problem there. Another week... This Monday we head to Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park. I met Tom at his house at 7:00am, and we have a 2.5 hour drive to our destination. Now I know nothing about Old Rag, but what I have read. The first 1.5 miles is pretty much straight up. I explain to Tom that this is my first hike since waking from hibernation, he just laughs at me. On this hike there is a rock scrambled that is really fun, but it's challenging. I ask about 2 hours into the hike straight up, "when does the scramble start"? Tom in his very funny way says, "As soon as you feel like you can't put one foot in front of the other, that's when the scramble starts". hahahaTom has a great sense of humor, although nothing is funny on hour 3 uphill. When we hit the scramble it was a nice break from the hiking straight uphill. I want you to note the snow in this photo, well we wanted to beat the crowds. No problem there,we only ran into 3 others on the mountain. A young nurse actually hiked with us for most of the trail. It was a long day, but one of the best I've had in a long time. We stopped for milkshakes on the way home. Before leaving that morning Tom put a roast and some veggies in a crock pot, and we were greeted with the rich aroma of the finished product.

After the first bite I think I asked Tom to marry me. Who's funny now?

Cruise Contol

I am going to interrupt my ongoing China blog to catch you up to speed with my real life When I came home from the cruise, I decided it was time to get back in the game, so I went on the ever dreaded dating site, match.com. After I had filled out all the questionnaires that would make up my profile, and hit send I regretted it. Do I really want to go through all this again? Well no sooner do I hit send then the winks start coming in. For those of you not in the date site loop, a wink on match is to let someone know you are interested in them. The first wink come from someone in Arizona. I let him down gently by letting him know with the cost of fuel on the rise I wasn't filling my Lear jet as often as I was. I figure if I couldn't make a go of it with someone down the street, Arizona was out of the question. Match is sooo different from e-harmony, in that people are in contact with you right away. A friend of mine described it as, drinking water from a fire hose. After a few "put me out of my misery" phone conversations, and abrupt e-mails concerning my rudeness, I wondered what the hell I had gotten myself into. ....and then there was Tom.

Out At Sea

For the first day and 1/2 we were out in the South China Sea. The weather was brisk and damp, so laying by the pool was not an option.....actually being outside was not an option. There are plenty of other things to do while on board. Maura opted to learn bridge, I went to a yoga class and then to a group trivia challenge. These activities were replayed each day we were at sea. They also had an ongoing puzzle, 3 revolving movie choices that played in your suite, and any other wheelchair bound activity you can imagine. They had a spa on board, but Maura and I both agreed we would look for the $12.00 massage in town, as opposed to the $160.00 on board.
Our 2nd evening on board was the Formal Night, and Maura and I had been invited to sit at the Co-Captain's table. Now when I say formal, I mean the men were in black tie and the ladies dressed to the 9's. I wore a red dress, and just keep putting on faux pearls. When I go on holiday it is not to dress up and wear my best baubles. When traveling to a 3rd world country I don't even bring my real gems.....anyway, dinner was delicious.
After dinner, which ended at 10:00pm, we went to watch a magic show. Maura took us up to the front row, and everyone knows what happens when you sit in the front row. This magician was very different from the one I assisted in my early 20's. He was more into card tricks, then pulling rabbits out of hats, and sawing women in half. Well surprise, surprise in his third set he asks for my assistance. I have never been shy in front of a crowd, so up I go. I, of course, am still in my formal wear which includes 3 1/2 inch heels. I get in front of the crowd and am wobbling with every pitch of the boat. I say "Oh, I'm a bit tippy", well the crowd loves it, thinking I meant to say "tipsy". The magician runs with it, so the rest of the show I think the crowd is more interested in whether I'm going to fall or not. Maura and I were the only 2 who knew I hadn't had a drop to drink.

All Aboard.

I have been on 5 or 6 cruises, and as a rule they are not my favorite form of travel. The Seabourn Cruise Line is by far the nicest Cruise Line I have been on. The bedrooms were actually suites, a sleeping area, as well as a sitting area. The closet was a walk in, and the bathroom had a sunken marble tub. For having to be in the same room for 2 weeks, this was not

a bad place to be.

Where???

Maura and I get back to the hotel with enough time to question the concierge, hop in a cab and go to one of the nicest "Foot Salons" in Hong Kong. At least that's what we thought. When the cab dropped us off, there was a small Chinese woman with fliers for foot massage, along with any other type of massage you may have been looking for. Why would she need to advertise right in front of her own salon? In the universal sign for follow me, Maura and I did. We both assumed she was taking us to the Foot Palace, but why is it so far from where the cab let us off? We followed her for about 1/4 mile and thought maybe we should have kept the cab. I have no doubt that if we had been much younger, we would now be at the feet of some Sultan in Dubai.
We finally make it to a Foot Place as opposed to Palace. What a difference a letter makes. We both sat down and began a 45 minute foot and leg massage. As massages go, it wasn't too bad.
Maura's masseur spoke english and explained all the pressure points as he worked on her. I, of course, just smiled and shook my head. By the end of this trip I will be know as a Bobble Head. The last 10 minutes we got a neck and shoulder massage. Maura's neck wasn't right for the rest of the trip.