Late Nights On My Patio...

I have a great patio. It's sort of plain... just two simple chairs and a very small table, but it is big and it doesn't get soaking wet when it rains... which it did earlier this evening. I am sitting outside now, watching lightening flash in the distance, enjoying the unseasonably cool breeze that the storm brought in and having a late night cup of coffee. This is writing weather, I thought. So I brought my computer out and here I am.

June has been a pretty eventful month. I started the month off going to see Natasha Bedingfield perform at the House of Blues - a great concert at a great venue. She has such an amazing voice and sings some songs that have touched me very deeply over the past year or so. The House of Blues has quickly become my favorite place to see concerts because it is a very small and intimate setting that really has no bad seats. I don't think I have seen one show there yet that the tickets were more than $25 each (before all the stupid taxes and fees were added on that is) which makes it even better. The idea of spending $75 and more on tickets in a building where you need binoculars to see the performers has quickly become insane to me. Of course, the performers are limited there so I still have to give in to the larger arenas every now and then.

The month continued with a renewed spike in job opportunities. I have been contacted by a few different people in the last month - none of which has turned into an actual offer yet, but I do believe that the offer(s) will begin very soon. I feel that the tide is about to change as it relates to my career. I am so excited to see where it will take me.

But probably the most impactful things this month have been surrounding my friends. I have a small group of friends that I care very deeply for and a lot has been happening with them. My first real "Texas" friend Sharon is moving into her home next week. After doing some very careful house hunting, she has found a place for her and her daughter and they will begin moving this week. She is so excited to finally be leaving the apartment life which she has been dealing with since she moved to Texas close to 7 years ago and I am so excited for her. Being a single mother, doing this on her own, I can feel the sense of forward movement - positive energy - that she is getting right now. I am so excited to help her get settled in and be there for the first gathering at her new abode. Brandi, my other dear friend, has finally reached a point in her life of contentment with who she is. Her and I have been best friends for 12 years now, and I have seen her grow so much, and struggle so much, that it fills my heart with joy to see her in the place she is now. Now Kim, on the other hand... my Kim... that girl that has been by my side since we were 9 years old... she hasn't had the best of times recently. Her father passed away last week and I was six hours away. My heart ached so badly knowing that she was hurting and I wasn't there. I made a whirlwind trip to my hometown last weekend to see her. If nothing more than to hug her and let her know that I will always be there for her. We had a great time, all things considered, and I was once more filled with an overwhelming need to be thankful that I at least have the ability to be there for those who I love and who love me when they need me. Because after all, that is what friends are for. Last night, I was there for yet another friend... this is a newer friend, one that I have not always been that close to... but she was struggling and needed someone to be there... and I was. And we had dinner and a couple of drinks so she could talk about it all... and then... we went rollar skating... that's right. Friday night, two grown women... at the skating rink. But you know what? We laughed... we had fun... and she was able to forget about her problems for awhile. So once again, I got to be a good friend. In life, what I have learned is that you need to make sure you are good to those people who are important to you. Because when you need someone... you want someone to be there... and you should always give what you hope to receive.

One last thing... I want to say thank you to my family who crammed together their lives last weekend to accomodate my very short visit with them. They were all so understanding about my need to be there for Kim which only left me a few hours to visit with them. It was so fantastic to see everyone... to hug my nieces... to see my newest nephew... to see my sister's new place... to visit with my dad... and to eat some of my mom's delicious cooking... it was a fast visit, but great nonetheless. Thank you to everyone.

I am so blessed in my life... In the whole scheme of things... my life is pretty damn good.