Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Old Friends and Weird Dreams

We are two couples in Florida this weekend. The two guys have best buddies for 35 years. We wives met when I became engaged almost 27 years ago. Our children have been like cousins since the day each was born and our families took vacations together at least once a year as they were growing up. We've all seen "the good, the bad, and the ugly" side of each and every one of us. Oh, the bickering we've mediated! And the parent/kid issues and challenges  we all took turns having. Recalling them is *now* hilarious. Like the first time I swore at my kid at the snack bar of the Telluride, CO airport during an eight hour flight delay (and through clenched teeth but still audible. I might have said something like "Just eat the fucking cheese." Maybe that.). 

This morning I told them a recent and weird dream I had in which they were the main character. He was sitting on my back, poking and annoying me while she was flipping through a cookbook of mine stealing secret recipes. It was strange. His dream starred a monkey (which freak him out) in a police uniform who wanted a piggyback ride. Etc..

We could sit around and talk for hours. Haven't found a topic that's is off limits. Still some bickering occurs since we're human after all. But there is just something about the comfort level with those whom you have such long history. Sometimes it feels like "home".

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My five minutes of unedited babble comes to you from the sunshine state (overcast but an improvement from Chicago's current 30 degree temperature).

We link up our stream of consciousness writing on a Sunday at allthingsfadra.com

Winter Wonderland and Sitting On Santa's Lap: Stream of Consciousness

Jana, over at her place, said today is a free writing day for Sunday Stream of Consciousness in honor of her birthday. She’s a young thing though, like 37, 38 or something obnoxious like that. Happy birthday, Jana!

The deal is to write for five minutes about whatever, leave it be (no editing) and hit publish.

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This weekend we, again, had the opportunity to go to the lovely metropolis (not a metropolis) of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, undoubtedly the beer and brat capital of the world. Actually, we were in the town of Kohler (birthplace to all those wonderful plumbing fixtures), the sister community to Sheboygan.

There were 10 taverns between our hotel and the restaurant where we ate last night. That should tell you a little bit about what’s important to the Sheboygan-ians. Amazingly, it has a wonderful Italian restaurant called Stefano’s but of course Herbert Kohler, Jr. wouldn’t have it any other way (you should see the size of him).

Speaking of size, the lodge where we stayed had a Christmas brunch this morning with absolutely the best Santa we have EVER seen. His entire girth was his own as was his beard! I swear he must have used a curling iron to get it to roll this way. And he talked with the cutest Minnesotan accent (you know, hey dar!).

There weren’t any children around right then so I asked him if I could sit on his lap. Being a jolly sort, he was very encouraging. He asked what was on my list and I told him “I don’t have a list.”

You know what he said?

“That’s a good thing because you were naughty this year. Santa likes naughty girls. Ho Ho Ho” He giggled.

“I was not naughty.” My childish self said.

And my friends said, “She was too, Santa.”

Thanks girlfriends.

I look really tired. Christmas parties are hard work sometimes.

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

— DR. SEUSS

Random Is The Only Way Today

It feels like a long time since I’ve sat my butt down in this seat, in my study, to write a post about random things. You might think otherwise. You might think all of my posts are random. You may have a point.

I just returned from a very long walk with an old friend. I wouldn’t say she’s a close friend, just a friend friend. You know what I mean. I’ve known her a long time, seventeen years. We know a lot of the same people and raised our children in the same community/schools and in a similar fashion. It was delightful and the fresh air felt fantastic. I actually put it off for a month and I’m not sure why.

What I realized immediately after I walked inside my house was I really wish I’d make/take time to do this more often.  Not just communicate over the phone, through texts or on Facebook but see friends in the flesh. Look at them. 

I see my really, really close friends (in the flesh, not naked!) extremely often. I’m not talking about them but other people I care about that I connect with much less frequently. If not now, then when? This is something that's been going through my brain a lot lately.

Speaking of texting. I just had a conversation with one of my closest friends via text. She asked me why things were a certain way with a couple we both know. I realize I'm only giving you a snapshot but maybe you'll get the gist. The conversation went like this:

I don’t want to boss my man around. I don’t want him to let me either. It doesn’t help me feel good or better about myself. It would actually make me feel crummy. 

It was funny that we both thought for a day it might be...well, you know. But we value other things on our Christmas list rather than being "the boss" of everything. I might need to give that more thought!

Speaking of Christmas lists and for those of you with young kids, appreciate the fact that you get Santa lists or crayon circled items in the Toys R Us or Walmart flyers. It’s not easy shopping for "big" children with no lists or ideas. I never did get that crystal ball I asked for all those years ago, which would help me in situations precisely like this. It takes a whole lot more energy.

T-minus 11 days until this body must insert itself into a swimsuit. Is there nothing more frightening in the wintertime? Yes, there is! Trying on swimsuits under fluorescent lights is worse.

While I’m extremely happy to be getting out of here, I’m intensely short on time for holiday preparations and that swimsuit thing hangs over me (YES! I can be a bit vain sometimes). Maybe it would help if I got off the computer.

Off to decorate.

Thanks Stacy, Shawn and Impulsive Addict for indulging our randomness another week.