it’s friday! and good thing, too, because this week is FIRED. FIRED, I SAY.
It’s no secret that this week has sucked for me rather extraordinarily, which coincides nicely with Gradon’s month and a bit of suck.
Everyone is facing economic crunches and layoffs and difficult times, but when it happens to both sides of a couple (well, 100% and 40%, respectively)? And when that couple is 3,000 miles apart? And when they have not seen one another in four months and have two more to go, now? And when money does not, in fact grow on the trees? And when there is no end in sight?
Sigh. I’ve woken up nauseous and exhausted almost every morning, and finally. feel. like. all. of. this. is. just. too. much.
So indulge me in a little bit of imagination…
1. If you could choose every element of your day tomorrow to be UTTER perfection (location, company, menu, outfit, vehicle, what have you…), tell me how it would go.
2. What five-song playlist could you create that would send you flying with joy into the weekend?
3. What five things are you thankful for right now?
4. What five things do you wish would happen next week?
5. Give me your five favourite words.
6. If this was a radio station, and you were calling in to request and dedicate a song to someone, what would it be, and who would you send that shout out to?
GO!
August 7th, 2009 at 11:51 am
1.
I would eat bbq roasted corn on Matai Beach in New Zealand after swimming with my two boys, the oldest showing my youngest the same warm pools of tidal water he played in when he was the same age. My wife would be drinking white wine from a boutique winery down the road, we would smile and then she would kiss me goodbye as I drove off to play golf with my three best friends later that afternoon, where we would smoke and swear and laugh until we peed our pants.
2.
Groove is in the Heart – Deelite
Rapper’s Delight – The Sugarhill Gang
Lovely Day – Bill Withers
Girlfriend – Matthew Sweet
Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club
3.
Hud
Tasman
Steph
Cottage
Diet Coke
4.
I would feel inspired
I would complete a chapter
My youngest would sleep in his own bed
I would have sex
I would find a lucrative lottery ticket in my couch
5.
Somnambulant
Scrotum
Paprika
Portent
Knuckle
6.
Rhymin and Stealin – to Chicken Jimmy who I miss very much.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:52 am
1. I would have a beautiful sunny morning for a bike ride and walk with my dog, followed by a cool and rainy afternoon in which to kick back on the back porch in the swing and listen to the patter on my awning. What I wear is never important, but I have been trying to fit into this dress — almost there! I would get lots of work done on my writing project and more fun DMs from people I admire. I don’t ask for a lot (except for a Saturday off!).
2. When Smokey Sings (ABC), We’re All Light (XTC), Rejoice in the Lord Alway (Henry Purcell), Reel Me In (Santa [got to have some ska]), Starship Trooper (YES).
3. That my parents are still around and fun to be with, that I have friends online and in meatspace to entertain me, that it’s never too late, that I learned to read and that someone invented the internet so I can try to cheer you up with these answers.
4. I hope to finish a project I have well ahead of deadline; I hope the Perseid meteor shower is a good one (and we have a clear night to enjoy it); I hope I come up with a good ending for the story I’m writing; I hope you and your sweet baboo figure something out (I do empathize; I’ve sort of been there, though it was only 200 miles, it was WYOMING and WINTER); and I hope the weather stays beautiful where I live.
5. fidget, splendid, glupa (Russian for ’stupid’), book and (one that I made up) snarftastic.
Good luck, Meg!
August 7th, 2009 at 11:55 am
I’m really sorry things are icky right now. I def know the feeling of hopelessness and aggravation. Within the past 4 years my parents died, I’ve lost my job, become homeless for a short time, and was very sick for months at a time. I had a bad few years in all seriousness and it was one thing after another. For some reason this year, the sun is shining down on me and I have an awesome job (one I couldnt have gotten without being jobless and exploring new creative routes), an awesome house (which I couldnt have bought without the economy lowering the price for me), and I’ve been healthy since january! That’s a huge feat for someone with diagnosed chronic health problems.
I truly believe the tide comes and goes, and the lessons we learn when everything is absolutely horrific are what gets us to where we end up when it isn’t.
I’m very happy waking up next week, going to my current job in my favorite jeans and tee, and grabbing a coffee on the Highline afterward, but if it were extremely perfect- I’d have a Round The World plane ticket, a carryon of essentials, and zero time restraints. :)
August 7th, 2009 at 11:58 am
1. It’s pretty close to perfect weather — low 80s, no humidity, big puffy clouds in a bright blue sky — in Boston today, so let’s do it again tomorrow, just like today.
You and I will be having a relaxing Saturday, wearing jeans, T shirt/tank top, and flip flops: Coffee from Zumes; brunch at Tremont 647; a walk around the South End, Back Bay, and the Public Garden; mid-afternoon lunch on the patio of some restaurant we happen upon, an indie film at the Kendall Cinema (the T running perfectly on time, of course); and an end-of-the-night dinner at the Gaslight with a sleepy cab ride home.
2. Stevie Wonder, “My Cherie Amour”; Paul Simon, “Kodachrome” Rilo Kiley “Silver Lining”; Phoenix “Lisztomania”; The Faint, “The Geeks Were Right”
3. You, E, sunshine, good food, friends.
4. A new job; you being here; a rehabbed apartment (!); more sunshine; and a website redesign.
5. First off, I would only call a radio station if Buzz Bishop was the DJ. :) I’d (of course) ask for him to play Estelle’s “American Boy”. ;)
August 7th, 2009 at 11:59 am
1. The beach, hampton NH, perfect summer weather, driving there in my Beetle with the top down and my 3 besties in the car, singing the whole way to crap pop music, sitting on the deck at our fave seaside watering hole drinking raspberry mudslides and sunning ourselves.
2. (Country music is summer music) Sunshine and Summertime-Faith Hill; Out Last Night-Kenny Chesney; Toes-Zac Brown Band; Boy Like Me-Jessica Hart; The One For You-Taylor Swift.
3. Friends, wine, Macbook, frequent flier miles and 1st class upgrades, the housekeeping lady in the hotel who gave me a free bag of goldfish and a diet coke when the machine ate my money.
I’ll leave the next three questions to the other commenters. But I hope you feel better soon!
August 7th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
1. Tomorrow would start with NO morning sickness then waffles with strawberries and whipped cream, then off the the salon for a much needed haircut, then to the mall for a new outfit for Sunday at 50% off the sale price. To make the shopping expedition perfection, my husband would not whine once and would say “take all the time you need, dear, I’m in no rush to get home!” Dinner could be anything, as long as I don’t have to cook it, followed by free babysitting so Brian and I could go see GI Joe.
2. I Don’t Feel Like Dancing (Scissor Sisters, Georgia On My Mind (Ray Charles), Faith (George Michaels), Senora (Harry Belafonte), Joyride (Roxette)
3. a. Brian (husband) b. Alexander (son) c. Baby #2, due March 8th d. Family e. Mario Kart for Wii
4. a. Time off with pay b. no morning sickness c. instantly potty trained child d. good nights sleep e. a pedicure
5. sphincter, delightful, behoove, weekend and wawioli (ravioli as pronounced by my 2 year old)
6. My song would be “That’s the Truth” by Paul Brandt to my hubby because I’m feeling a little sappy today and that’s the song he sang for me at our wedding.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Oops. Forgot to answer 6. We’re All Light - to someone I don’t know you well enough to name yet ;)
August 7th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
1. Keats Island with my family, chilling in the kitchen eating Keats Camp food after a day of “shopping” in Gibsons.
2. Ida Maria - I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked, Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, The Cool Kids - I’m Mikey, Sublime - Badfish, The Complete Reunited Rise Up Band - You Pick Me Up (cuz we’re at Keats!)
3. It’s nice not to have to truly fear our government. My wife is incredibly beautiful. My children are great! It’s Friday. Of course, there’s always www.megfowler.com to be thankful for too.
4. In the form of a haiku:
World peace. Sweepstakes win.
We have a nice vacation.
The kids have nannies.
5. Home. Team. Game. Night. Boobs.
6. Shoutouts to Christian Latayan - Let Me Clear My Throat (DJ Kool)
August 7th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
1. Actually, tomorrow should be good as it’s planned: outside in wine country, enjoying a bottle with my favorite Brit and some good friends. Hopefully it’ll be sunny with a light breeze.
2.
The Future So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades by Timbuk 3
Charmed Life by Leigh Nash
If I Had a Million Dollars by They Might Be Giants
Just Dance by Lady Gaga (good idea, I think I will)
Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet
And yes, I realize those 3 really don’t go together well, but they make me think weekend independently.
3. Ed, being employed, awesome family, my friends who are so much fun, and vaca coming up in 2 weeks
4. I’d win the lottery, leave for vaca early, get a pedicure (a real one, which i haven’t had inforever), I’d stop being allergic to cats, someone would clean my apartment for me.
5. Polysybalic, paprika, margarita, scootch, awesome, and bouncy
6. “Let’s Get It On” for that favorite brit I mentioned earlier. *blush*
August 7th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
1. I can’t do better than the day Gradon planned for us, except for (perfect day, right?) adding in mani/pedis and a fresh colour/cut for me, and some snazzy clothes for G.
2. “Jump in the Line” — Harry Belafonte, “Loving is Really My Game” — Brainstorm, “Lovely Day” — Bill Withers, “Higher and Higher” — Jackie Wilson, and “River Deep, Mountain High” — Ike & Tina.
3. My mom and dad, Gradon, my friends, faith, and hope.
4. A wonderful new job for Gradon, a safe trip for my parents & good time with their friends, amazing writing contracts, reinstated hours, a spa package falling into my lap out of nowhere.
5. Bliss, percolate, peony, peace, sleep.
6. I’d call Buzz and force him to play the Combine Harvester song for Gradon.:)
August 7th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I’m totally not going to answer your questions at all. However, I WILL tell you that my parents are going to Vegas in September for an outrageous deal: the flight was $150 return AND their hotel was $150 for the week! (They always stay at The Orleans, it’s off the beaten strip but they enjoy it.)
I know people who are laid off and/or have had their hours cut back should probably save their pennies rather than blow them on a trip to Vegas, but if airfare and hotel is only $300 maybe you and Gradon could plan for a cheap getaway — just so you could have the chance to spend some time together? Even if you spend the entire time just hangin’ at the hotel, wouldn’t that be better than NOT seeing each other?
‘Cause you really do deserve to have some fun together, I think…
August 8th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
1. Next week I have pretty much my perfect day planned… my hubby is home on Monday from a too long visit with his family in Hungary and we’re going to spend the day at Point Roberts on the beach with our daughter and my extended family. With any luck the sun will be shining and I’ll be taking lots of photos purely for fun and artistry (rather than work) which is especially wonderful. We always go to Point Roberts for the day in August and it always ends up being the highlight of the year.
2. “My Happiness” - Powderfinger, “Rock with You” - Michael Jackson, “All These Things I’ve Done” - The Killers, “High” - Lighthouse Family, “Penny & Me” - Hanson (don’t laugh, it’s a really great song, just listen to the lyrics… what a perfect day)!!
3. My daughter. My husband. My iMac. My health(ish). Canada.
4. Safe arrival home of my hubby on Monday. Sunshine on Tuesday. Finally catching up on my work on Wednesday. Booking another wedding on Thursday. Awesome Mama-Csilla day on Friday. No need to wish… it’s already happening.
5. Quagmire. Lethargic. Passion. Compassion. Superexcitingawesome (I’m not cheating… it’s one word at our house!)
6. “Hey There Delialah” by The Plain White T’s and the shout out would go to my daughter Csilla. She loves that song and would probably get superexcited if someone said her name on the radio.
August 8th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
I posted mine on my blog–though I took inspiration from it and went in two directions.
http://talesfrommidair.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/no-more-moping/