Surpise!

This weekend was filled with changes and surprises too! Where to start...the beginning is always good.

My weekend was suppose to be somewhat quiet and all planned out. Friday afternoon...run errands on my way home from work. Saturday, join a couple of friends, Lynn & Andrea (former co-workers) for an early lunch in Enfield, then housework. Sunday was to be a "veg out" day.

It all started Friday when a co-worker suggested pizza for lunch. I offered to use up some of my "no-no" overtime and pick up pizzas at J&G's. While I was waiting for the pizzas, I chatted with co-owner, Manny. He complained because I hadn't spent very many Happy Hours there and told me I was too young to spend my time at home. Then he did something that Manny rarely, if ever, does...he said he would buy me a drink if I showed up for Happy Hour. Now how could I possibly turn down a free drink? Definately not if Manny is buying!! I told him I'd think about it but wasn't thinking too hard about it.

Mid afternoon, Marsha sent me an e-mail asking if I wanted to meet her after work. There was a 4:00 pm showing of her house and she couldn't go home. That clinched the deal. So I was off to J&G's for a last minute Happy Hour. Now to re-arrange my Saturday schedule. Ok, so I can do the housework in the morning and run the errands after lunch with my friends. Sounds good to me.

Satuday morning gets here and I'm just too tired to do housework (I procrastinate alot). I shower, dress and drive to Enfield. Lynn & I arrived at the same time. When we get inside, she says a few extras will be joining us for lunch. I'm thinking Andrea's daughter? sister? both? decided to join us. While we wait for the table to be ready, I realized I should have invited Joyce (former and now current co-worker) to join us. That's when Lynn says, "Too late, she has already been invited." At that same moment, Joyce walked through the door. Ok, so that was our surprise guest. Or so I thought.

Lynn, Joyce, Shannon (Lynn's son) and I sit down and chat while waiting for the "late" Andrea. Of course it was Tyra's (her daughter) fault that she was an hour late. While we are sitting there, a nice looking older gentleman stands behind Lynn and just looks and smiles at us. OMG!!! IT'S AL!!!! I'm in SHOCK to say the least. Al has lost over 100 pounds and looks fabulous!! There's only one little problem, Al always had the right look and attitude for Santa. He still has the jolly demeanor but no longer the "jelly belly".

We spent a couple of hours at the restaurant, reminiscing and catching up on our former co-workers. While I was only at IP for 4 years, I made some life-long friends. We always had fun at work and still managed to get the work done. Now, it's time to say our good-byes but not without making arrangements to meet up again, in June.

As I drive home, still in shock, it's pouring outside and I realize I need to use the bathroom. So, instead of running errands, I head straight home. The errands will wait until Sunday and again, so will the housework.

Sunday has arrived, the errands MUST be done today and I really must do housework. Well, maybe I'll do housework...or maybe I'll take a nap? The first stop was to the pet supply store and they don't open until 10:00 on Sunday. I wander around for 15-20 minutes and realize they don't have what I'm looking for....so off I go to the next stop, Big Lots.

At Big Lots, they have some really nice and cheap gardening supplies. I was looking for those inexpensive plastic, stick in the ground, fences. My landlord keeps rearranging and mowing over flowers in the yard. So I'm roaming the aisles and look up to see, OMG it's Don Foster from Wiremold!! I haven't seen him since I left Wiremold, 8 years ago. Ok, so I did the same thing I hate when other people do it --- spent 20+ minutes, blocking the aisle and catching up on the past 8 years. Don looks exactly the same as he did 8 years ago. We hugged, chatted and hugged again. He was one of my favorite people at Wiremold, even though I called him my "pain in the ass". It was more of a term of endearment. He's also the only person I know that smokes unfiltered Camels --- strong stuff!

Now it's off to the grocery store for just a few items (yeah right!)....$40.00 later I'm heading home ands it now 3:00 pm and I'm hungry. I fixed a quick sandwich and turned on the TV. Big mistake :) I woke up about 6:00 and of course the housework STILL needs to be done.

In the words of Scarlett O'Hara, "Tomorrow is another day."