getting stuff accomplished

Well, my sunburn from last week is starting to itch and peel a little bit but I guess that's what it is supposed to do. One of these days I will remember to wear sunscreen so it doesn't happen again... I will definitely have to try and remember next week since we are belly dancing outside. There are certain places I don't want to be sunburned (stomach and lower back being two of those main places)...

Friday after work, yesterday and today I have made significant progress in getting my apartment straightened up for my brother visiting on Friday. I think I even have a place for a queen-sized air mattress to go down and inflate! That is a major improvement from how I started. I thought he might have to sleep on top of a box or maybe even outside.... =)

I got my time off request approved so I will be able to spend most of his visit off of work (I have to go into work one day but think I might have him come in with me at least for a little bit that day to see what a typical day for me is like). =)

I really am looking forward to his visit because he and I haven't really spent any length of time just "hanging out" since we've been adults. He and I were kind of at opposite ends of the spectrum growing up but, as adults, have found we have more in common than we thought growing up. Plus it will be nice to have someone to hang out with - a person (no offense to my dogs, but sometimes it's nice to spend time with a person; especially family). Granted, I still have some things to do before he gets here (and my week is already pretty full) but it will all get done one way or another...

With all of the cleaning and moving of boxes and such, I think my dogs are pretty confused. I've had to moves one of their beds a couple of times (just so I didn't put a box or two on it) and I had to move their food bowls as well. Everything got moved back when I was finished in that area but I was just trying to keep their things out of the way and not break them. I'm sure that I'm imagining things and it really didn't affect them one way or another but that's sometimes the result when you only come home to animals (you tend to project thoughts/feelings onto your pets).

When I was moving boxes, I came across one that I opened but maybe should have left it shut... As I opened the box, I came across a family photo taken a number of years ago (in the "before" time; pre-divorce and such) and a wooden carving that my Grandpa did before he passed away. I used to love just sitting with him as I grew-up just watching him carve... When I discovered my "find," I had a meltdown and began to cry. I guess that's what happens with grief though, it will creep up on you at unexpected times and sometimes over nothing really at all.

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have these few reminders of "home" to have available, I just didn't expect them to hit me the way that they did. Maybe that is just a way to show me that I needed to have the reminders of home available; I just didn't know that I did. As someone wise reminded me today, I just need to take all of this in stride and "use it in my acting." =)

Well, before it gets too much later, I suppose I should get a little bit more work done around the apartment and maybe work on my belly dance solo for this upcoming Friday. I wish all of my readers a good week and will update you on my two upcoming belly dance performances next week! =)

Bumps and Bruises... cont. (as well as Sunburned)

I was re-reading my post from last week and realized that I may need to go a little more in depth to what I wrote.... The shock to my system that I referred to last week came from finding out that my wasband has gotten remarried. I didn't hear it from him directly but when I questioned him about it (via text message), he didn't deny it either. I guess I don't know why I expected him to be honest since he's lied to me before (he promised me "forever" and that we wouldn't end things in divorce). Oh, well. What's done is done....... I can choose to dwell on what I can't change or move on. I am going to try and move on... It hurts but I'm still going to try and move on...

The sunburn comes in from going with a friend to a flea market today. I did something unlike me and wore a sundress but forgot to put on sunscreen.... At least, at this moment, it doesn't hurt but I'm sure it will be a little tender come tomorrow (especially when I don't wear a sundress to work). I did get some really neat (and inexpensive) jewelry for belly dancing. I also got some awesome material to create a "wall" (thanks for the suggestion, Mom) to cover some of my boxes. =)

Mom suggested that I either use a tension rod or some PVC pipe to create a fabric "wall" to add some color to my white apartment as well as cover some of the boxes that I still have in my apartment (due to lack of space). I'm actually looking forward to the project - I don't have a solid idea of how I'm going to create my new "wall" but I'm excited about the creative process. It will at least give me a new project. =)

I had thought at one point of getting on of those room dividing screens but decided my dogs might crash into it and knock it over. That would be a bad thing... With my luck it would either land on one (or both) of the dogs when it fell over or it would fall on me. Hanging a piece of fabric is a little less of a safety issue (unless I fall off of the ladder when hanging it). =)

At least I have a reason to work on straightening up my apartment - - I found out this past week that one of my brothers wants to come visit me! =) With his visit, I'm hoping to actually get some time off of work (I've been working where I do for two years this past April and I've only taken about 2 1/2 days off - the day after my wasband left me, the day after I got divorce papers and 1/2 a day for court). It'll be nice to take time off for something that is "fun." I joked with him that I might have a box that he can sleep on. =)

I'm excited too about when he's coming since he'll get to see me dance - a solo and then dances with the troupe. We have talked about the dances that we are going to perform as a group and I know all but one at this point. Him coming is going to be motivation for me to work on that dance. =)

Well, since I went to a belly dance party yesterday (it was a birthday party for one of the gals I dance with) and spent most of today at the flea market, I should probably work on my lesson plan for this upcoming week.... Hope everyone has a spectacular week! =) Also, Happy Father's Day to all of the Dad's out there; especially to my Dad!! =)