ANOTHER TWO DOWN AND A NEW SUIT FOR THE BEACH

I lost another two lbs.  Yeah, Victoria!  

I just happened to get my new bathing suit in the mail from Land's End just in time.  It's a blue one-piece, and it looks terrific, I must admit.  I actually wore it without the over-sized t-shirt!  Well, I didn't actually flaunt myself.  I was talked in to taking off the so-called "hideous sunflower t-shirt".

This is the suit, not me (I wish)

Once on the beach, I managed to avoid the other women on the beach with their wine and cheese, and annoying children who love to pick on Derek.  Or they purposely did not see me, like I purposely did not see them.  I sat in my usual spot, pulled out a book, saw that Derek was having fun playing with some other kids, so I started to read.

I think that I started to doze off, but then heard a very familiar voice asking if he could sit down. I saw that it was Mark, and I was surprised to see him at the beach, but I said yes.  Thank God he didn't bring up the dinner fiasco.  I was happy about that.

Two minutes later (or was it seconds?), Roberta came jogging over like she was auditioning for Baywatch, and invited Mark over for wine and cheese (and oh yeah, me too).  To my surprise, and probably his as well, he politely declined saying something about working the late shift.  Roberta smiled (fakely--is that a word?), asked if he liked her skimpy bikini (he said he did--I wanted to puke at this point) and then bounced all the way back to the woman's meeting on the beach.  It really wouldn't have made a difference if he joined them or not because I was there alone to begin with, however, it was nice to know that he wouldn't dump me for a group of adoring women.  I think that he's growing up!

Then he busted my chops because I was wearing the over-sized beach t-shirt, and he hates when I wear them (I won't tell you how he said it, but it was back to the old Mark).  He said that I shouldn't cover up the fact that I've lost weight.  I was stunned, because I didn't think that he noticed that I've lost twelve pounds (nobody else seemed to notice).   

I actually asked him advice on how to get Philip's attention, and after rolling his eyes,  he intimated that Philip should be more worried about getting my attention, which made me laugh.  Then he said that I should walk around wearing the bathing suit, and that would definitely get Philip's attention.  I think that I may have blushed.

THREE MORE--I'M ON A ROLL NOW

Another week, another three pounds.  Down eight now. Hooray for me!

I did not cave with the wine and cheese at the beach.  When I made lasagna for the family, I ate a salad with grilled chicken, and then I sent the second tray next door (owed him because he did me a huge favor). I'm walking twice a week, going to the gym once a week and doing yoga on the other days. I'm brainwashed, and I feel great.

WITH DAYS LIKE THIS, WHO WOULD WANT TO GET UP IN THE MORNING?

EVERYTHING WENT WRONG TODAY.  EVERYTHING.

Let me just start out by saying that Philip is on a business trip and is gone all week.  Chloe is also away.  So, of course it is the perfect time for disaster to happen.

I was at the mall with Derek, and it was about 100 degrees out there, so we went to the movies, stopped for ice cream, etc.  When we walked to the van in the parking lot, we were hot and sweaty and I wanted to turn on the AC immediately, drive home and make the lasagna for the church picnic tomorrow.  Guess what happened?

The van did not start.

So here it is, hot as hell, and we're stranded at the mall.  I immediately called triple A, and then I found out that my membership was not found, or it was expired--I don't quite remember what the person said, because I was too busy watching beads of sweat blind my eyes.  It didn't help that Derek started to complain that it was hot.

After going over my options, I decided to see if Mark was home and test this new friendship of ours.  Thirty minutes later he arrived with some woman named Barbara or Becky or whatever her name was.  He told me that I was out of gas, but in my defense, he said that it was probably a gas gauge problem?  He said that he didn't mind bailing me out, but I could tell that I threw a wrench into his afternoon.

I finally made it home, and was a little late to start making the lasagnas.  I put on the oven to heat up, but it didn't heat up.  The stove was working, but not the oven.  I tried to call Chloe, but there was no answer,  Then I remembered that she was on vacation.  Then I remembered that someone else was home.

As I arrived with the uncooked lasagna, Becky or Barbara or whoever was walking out the door, mumbling obscenities under her breath.  Mark tried to convince her to stay, but there was no use.  I don't know what her problem was.  I was only using the kitchen.

LITTLE TROPHIES

I'm so proud of Derek.  

Just got back from the baseball awards ceremony.  I know that everyone gets a trophy in this league, but it's his first one.  He was so excited, and I was ecstatic to see his little eyes light up.  

I love that kid so much.

BACHELOR UPDATE

When I found out that I was getting a new neighbor to replace the much beloved Girardi's, I was a little disappointed that a family wasn't moving next door.  There were no children for Derek to play with, and no mom for me to bond with.  My neighbor turned out to be a 40-ish year old bachelor, but I still figured that I'd give him a chance.

Well, on the night he moved in, there was a thunderstorm.  I should have taken that as an omen.  He was nice at first, but soon after that I realized that I didn't like him. 

He turned me off as soon as he sat down at my table and started to talk.  I don't know what it was about him--his cocky attitude, his tattoo or the way that he thinks that he is better than anyone else.

Derek and Philip seem to like him--of course.  I call it a sort of a hero worship. He has this enviable (to them, anyway) bachelor lifestyle.  Women everywhere, a pilot's license (used to be in the navy) and drives a stupid motorcycle that he restored himself.  He even promised to take Derek for a ride in both.  I can tell you one thing--he will have to drive over my dead body.

NEW NEIGHBOR UPDATE

Well, I guess that I'm not going to get what I wanted as far as the new next door neighbor thing goes.  Word has it that my new neighbor is going to be a forty-year old bachelor with no children.  Oh well.  I guess that Derek will not get his new playmate.
  

this is not him (I don't think)

 
I'm sure that he's very nice, but this is like the worst case scenario.  I can only hope that he is quiet and keeps to himself.

HEARTBREAK

THE GIRARDIS ARE GONE.  

It was a date that I had been dreading for a while.  Derek is beside himself because his best friend is gone.  Lots of hugs and good luck wishes, and then Derek sat on his bed in his room, heartbroken.

I can only hope that whoever buys this house next door is at least on half the type of people that the Girardis are.  I am going to miss my friends, and will try to stay in touch, but they moved to Texas.  They may as well have gone to the moon.  We probably will never see them again.