chaos ginger glitter sunglasses cicada
Aug. 13th, 2006 10:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
enteleinThis morning dawned just about as perfectly as it possibly could, and I rushed around getting ready for a long day of family stuff. I took a slightly-long shower, and then tossed on a black blouse, strung 3 or 4 strings of beads around my neck (including a blue/green strand that makes me miss my friend Ali, since she made it for me), and donned this long-ass flowy khaki green skirt that I bought had right off the rack without even trying on. It's this deceptively full skirt with an unfinished edge, but somehow it still looks very dressy and pretty. I ironed my hair, and then managed to cram all my junk into my purse in time to walk outside, hug my brother, and then squeeze into the backseat of a rental car with my mom and sister-in-law (Ro was in the front passenger seat).
We took a very nice brunch on an Odyssey Cruise, to celebrate my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. The whole gang from my mom's side of the family was there. We boarded shortly before we were set to go, and I sat in the middle of one of three long tables reserved for our party on the lowest deck. I'd never been on one of these cruises before, and it was pretty nice. Standard buffet items for breakfast and lunch, including the ever-popular chocolate fountains with fruits and sweets for dipping/coating. I drank water and coffee and ate lots of fruit and had some bacon and a little salmon and sipped some champagne as we repeatedly toasted the guests of honor and sang sto lat. All around us and on decks above us were many other families and groups. I think a wedding party was on the third level. There were lots of little girls in white chiffon and ribbons and uncomfortably dressy shoes - they took up entire stairwells as they carefully picked their way up the steps to the top outside, holding their skirts out like they figured proper ladies should. It was cute and annoying.
The cruise itself was 2 or 3 hours, but quite relaxing and low maintenance. Sitting up top outside was absolutely lovely, when we were at full cruise speed and the breeze brushed away any of the intensity from the noontime sun. Hazy in the distance was the Chicago skyline, and the water of Lake Michigan was a jade green with glimmers of blue. Several tiny bottles of bubbles were opened and blown; they swirled in the air glittering and bright before imploding in the strong breeze. Everyone looked dressy and carefree. I have sun on my forearms and my nose and cheeks and forehead, and even on my chest where the beads or blouse didn't cover. It doesn't take much, pale as I am.
Once back at my mom's house, Ty and Brandy headed off to visit some stepfamily, and I did one of my favorite things in the whole world - I copped a seriously awesome nap on the chaise lounge in Mom's living room. This piece of furniture is one of the most comfortable things I have ever rested upon, ever, and I make it a habit to at least take ten minutes to doze there when I come over.
Wildfire was the dinner destination tonight. It's become routine to have it be so comforting and delicious and hilarious. Ro always harasses the server, and Ty cracks wise about any number of topics, and makes fun of the martinis I order. Tonight, the server brought me this dense lump of flourless chocolate cake topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and caramel/fudge sauce, with a single green lit candle stuck into it, and my family sang happy birthday and sto lat and I made a variable wish and blew out the candle and then we laughed ourselves silly as we headed back to the house.
Mom gave me another houseplant, and a bag full of homegrown cherry tomatoes, and 2 cucumbers as well, and their old toaster oven (woot!), and Ty burned me some Keane songs, and Brandy gave me a thick bar of soap scented with blackberry and sage.
And now I am tired, and slightly pink from the sun, and I am drinking cold water and soaking up the little bit of breeze coming in the windows. My Mom gave me a lift home. The street outside is particularly quiet tonight. It makes me love the city all the more.
Things aren't quite right in my world, but days like today keep me hanging on a bit, tiny footholds.
We took a very nice brunch on an Odyssey Cruise, to celebrate my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. The whole gang from my mom's side of the family was there. We boarded shortly before we were set to go, and I sat in the middle of one of three long tables reserved for our party on the lowest deck. I'd never been on one of these cruises before, and it was pretty nice. Standard buffet items for breakfast and lunch, including the ever-popular chocolate fountains with fruits and sweets for dipping/coating. I drank water and coffee and ate lots of fruit and had some bacon and a little salmon and sipped some champagne as we repeatedly toasted the guests of honor and sang sto lat. All around us and on decks above us were many other families and groups. I think a wedding party was on the third level. There were lots of little girls in white chiffon and ribbons and uncomfortably dressy shoes - they took up entire stairwells as they carefully picked their way up the steps to the top outside, holding their skirts out like they figured proper ladies should. It was cute and annoying.
The cruise itself was 2 or 3 hours, but quite relaxing and low maintenance. Sitting up top outside was absolutely lovely, when we were at full cruise speed and the breeze brushed away any of the intensity from the noontime sun. Hazy in the distance was the Chicago skyline, and the water of Lake Michigan was a jade green with glimmers of blue. Several tiny bottles of bubbles were opened and blown; they swirled in the air glittering and bright before imploding in the strong breeze. Everyone looked dressy and carefree. I have sun on my forearms and my nose and cheeks and forehead, and even on my chest where the beads or blouse didn't cover. It doesn't take much, pale as I am.
Once back at my mom's house, Ty and Brandy headed off to visit some stepfamily, and I did one of my favorite things in the whole world - I copped a seriously awesome nap on the chaise lounge in Mom's living room. This piece of furniture is one of the most comfortable things I have ever rested upon, ever, and I make it a habit to at least take ten minutes to doze there when I come over.
Wildfire was the dinner destination tonight. It's become routine to have it be so comforting and delicious and hilarious. Ro always harasses the server, and Ty cracks wise about any number of topics, and makes fun of the martinis I order. Tonight, the server brought me this dense lump of flourless chocolate cake topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and caramel/fudge sauce, with a single green lit candle stuck into it, and my family sang happy birthday and sto lat and I made a variable wish and blew out the candle and then we laughed ourselves silly as we headed back to the house.
Mom gave me another houseplant, and a bag full of homegrown cherry tomatoes, and 2 cucumbers as well, and their old toaster oven (woot!), and Ty burned me some Keane songs, and Brandy gave me a thick bar of soap scented with blackberry and sage.
And now I am tired, and slightly pink from the sun, and I am drinking cold water and soaking up the little bit of breeze coming in the windows. My Mom gave me a lift home. The street outside is particularly quiet tonight. It makes me love the city all the more.
Things aren't quite right in my world, but days like today keep me hanging on a bit, tiny footholds.
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no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 04:12 am (UTC):hugs!:
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 12:18 pm (UTC)and is it cat proof?
Date: 2006-08-14 05:52 pm (UTC)What manner of plant were you presented with?