When World's Collide, Passions Ignite
Hump Day, but not for me – it’s I won book-of-the-month at the TBR Pile day for this woman. Isn’t the banner below a great reward? So’s the free advertising *wink, wink* *nod, nod*. My utmost thanks to everyone who voted. You guys won too!
I’m having a wonderful Wednesday – how about you?
Cheers,
Jianne
What a week I’ve had.
First, there were the normal April end-of-tax-month work emergencies.
I finally resolved all of those late Saturday and decided to treat myself to a mani/pedi. The dh treated me to dinner, and I wore a new earring necklace combination. We went out to a fabulous Italian restaurant and had a great time.
The next morning the dh notices a rash around my neck. 
Two hours later, I start itching like a flea-infested gorilla.
Wonderful. A new allergy. Fine. I put on my big-girl panties and take a strong antihistamine.
On the following evening, we come home to find that our kitchen fridge/freezer’s not working and the defrosted water’s everywhere. We eat a ton of seafood. You gotta imagine the stench. Now you have to understand that our garage fridge had stopped working in January and we decided, since it’s just the two of us, we didn’t need it anymore. We call our friendly repair man and, two days and numerous coolers and packs of ice later, the kitchen fridge is working again.
Right on that day the dh leaves to visit his buddy for his birthday.
Everything’s hunky dory. I’m even looking forward to a couple of days of intense concentration on my current WIP, Torch the Wind.
Dumb me. 
I drop the dh to the airport. The traffic is ridiculously slow – it’s rush hour. The dh informs me that I’ll be going against traffic on the way back, so it should be easy.
HA!
Not only does a tractor trailer overturn on the highway, and it takes me two hours to get to my exit, but there’s an accident at the gated entrance to my community.
*Banging head on desk* Three hours later, I finally make it back home.
That same afternoon, my mom’s due to arrive from Trinidad. She flies into the Ft. Lauderdale airport and usually, her pickup’s a breeze. Actually, the last few times her plane has landed early and she’s been outside waiting for me.
Ha again!
I head to the airport with my Kindle and proceed to wait in the cell phone area for her call. An hour and a half AFTER her flight’s listed as arrived – NADA. Zilch, nothing, no phone call. I contact my sons, ask them to check her flight status. The electronic board listing’s correct. She did arrive two hours earlier. Finally, I park, go in, and find out that the whole immigration network’s down, and they’ve been processing all flights manually.
We don’t make it home from the airport until 8:30PM from a flight that arrived at 4:15PM!!!!!
Aaargh.
I did what any semi-insane woman would do in that situation. I bought a bottle of wine and a lottery ticket!
Cheers,
Jianne
Stress.
It’s unavoidable in our always-in-touch, not-enough-hours-in-a-day world.
Exactly what does the word, stress, mean?
The National Institute of Mental Health defines stress as the brain’s response to any demand. According to this organization there’s a positive side to stress. When we’re in danger, the stress response triggers body reactions, which can be life-saving: faster pulse, increased rate of breathing, muscle tension, more oxygen to the brain, all reactions crucial for survival. Stress can even boost the immune system.
Hooping Hoorah! *snort*.
If you’re like me, there’s no good side to being stressed out. The funny aspect of stress is that nine out of ten times, I don’t realize that I’m stressed out until my body reacts – my allergies flare up, or I come down with a flu.
This year I’ve resolved to do what we Trinis call ‘take in front’. The equivalent of the best form of defense is offense. My way of dealing with stress is to do the things that make me relax: Watching funny YouTube shorts, cooking, a mind-numbing Zumba class, gardening, reading, taking a walk on the beach, you get the drift.
Since my day job’s in finance, April is a cruel month—the tax man cometh.
I’m cramming all my stress relievers into this weekend. Here’s my YouTube short stress relief:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGtXyWOcYM0
On Friday night, the dh and I visited the Pompano Beach Seafood Festival—so yum, and such a soothing setting. Imagine sitting in a cool breeze on a pier while sipping wine, slurping briny oysters, and watching and listening to an Eagles tribute band on the beach. Heaven.
Saturday, I whipped up this incredible Tomato Carpaccio using locally grown heirloom tomatoes. Pure foodie paradise. My mouth’s watering thinking about it:
Yesterday, the dh finally deemed the pool water temperature right for swimming. So, we lazed by the pool, drank margaritas, and barbequed steak and corn. Of course, then there’s the ultimate relaxer *wink wink* *nod nod*.
Today, I’m ready to face whatever Machiavellian Monday crises erupt!
Bring it on!
Cheers,
Jianne
My sincere thanks to everyone for their good wishes yesterday on my birthday. It turned out to be a wonderful day. First there were the birthday flowers:
After a leisurely cup of coffee, the dh and I took Ricky (the best present ever!) for a walk.
Then my girlfriend, Tamarind, and her husband treated the two of us and my two sons (the wayward one’s in California) to brunch at Oceans 2000. Yummy stone crabs, oysters, and a whole bunch of other seafood plus champers. Even though it was rainy and grim (which made it the perfect temperature here in South Florida) the misted ocean, and the rolling waves made for an incredible setting. How can anyone go wrong with a combination of a perfect view, friends and family, and fabulous food?
Here’s a pick of the antique cake dish Tamarind gave me (I collect, according to the dh, ‘useless pink glass’):
And I can’t possibly mention or post a pic of the dh’s gifts…*wicked grin*.
Sigh, the only downside was that birthday number edging closer to the ‘big one.’
Have a magnificent Monday!
Cheers.
Jianne
