I've started several different entries this past week, and just never got around to finishing any of them. Not even to the "short, but good enough" stage. It's been a crazy week.

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I've been pretty well swamped at work, catching up on a bunch of small projects and tying up some loose ends. The weather has been rather crappy all week, too.

The rest of my life has been good this week, though. I managed to get most of my holiday shopping done -- plus a few goodies for myself. I've also been able to see and chat with quite a few friends this week. And ceramics is coming back together for me.

We saw No Doubt at Andrews Amphitheater on Saturday, which was a fantastic show! I'm not usually much of one for getting down in the front and jumping around, but the magnetism was too much and there I was. I had to elbow only a few people who kept getting their greasy hair into my face. It's good to be a tallish person in a state where the average person is a head shorter than you.

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I celebrated my fourth year in Hawaii last week. In one way it doesn't seem that it's been that long, but then sometimes it seems like I've been here forever. I actually have to renew my Hawaii drivers license this year! (Thank the stars -- it's a horrible picture.)

There are times when I miss Ohio. I'm jealous when my friends talk of buying houses, when the type of house we want is out of our reach here. I miss the fall colors, although we have our own kind of fall color here. I miss being able to get in the car and go someplace different -- Chicago, New York, Cincinnati, even Pittsburgh -- in a day's drive or so. I miss good antique shows and yard sales and flea markets and art shows. I miss reasonable grocery bills. And most of all, I miss my family and friends.

But I don't miss the weather at all. You know that perfect June week in Ohio, when it's sunny and the temperature is in the lower 80s and life is grand? Well, we get that most of the year, rather than for 1/52nd of the year.

I also don't miss the whole mainland corporate clothing thing. With the exception of my sister's wedding (which was on the mainland in wintertime), I have not worn nylons or heels in four years. And I'm very, very glad. (The ridiculousness of wearing nylons in warm weather: yet another rant for another time.)

I don't miss potholes. Or chipping the ice off my car every morning.

Sometimes I miss my favorite sweaters and my flannel sheets. But not often.
- posted by Lori @ 4:22:00 PM | permanent link | |