I got a really neat compliment recently. I was told by someone who has known me for over 27 years that I am a kind, loyal, caring, nice person and a very good friend. Seriously?  WOW! I almost started crying! It’s nice hear things like that, especially if you are feeling down.  My friendships are just about the most important thing to me, outside my very small family.  It’s so awesome to know that people appreciate me and my friendship as much as I appreciate them.

She DOES think I need to get angrier at other asshole friends though.

In regards to anger (not sadness or disappointment, but anger), 99.5% of the time, it’s just not worth it. Don’t get me wrong, I get pissed-off! No doubt about it, I’m human, but I do my best to not hold on to that anger overnight (at the most, a couple of days!). I can honestly say, there are only three people in my life I’ve not forgiven for various things. Two are old bosses and one is a relative. At least those are the only three I can come-up with right now!

The best way to describe it is I do my best to put myself into the other person’s position and look at the intent (as far as I can tell).  Everyone has bad days and says things they don’t mean. People have off days. I posted about  a month ago that I got a horrible haircut, now- am I going to be upset by that and yell and never go back to my hairdresser again? Of course not!!!  Shit happens. She didn’t do it on purpose!  We ALL should try and take breath and do that more often.

I’m not going to knowingly be a doormat, but I will be as understanding as I can..... it might take a day or two, but I do get past things.

Although, to be honest, rather than get mad, I’m far more likely to think I’ve done something wrong and they’re angry at ME and then I’ll feel horrible. I need to work on that! 😬 Better than rage though!!

Anyway, as corny as it sounds: don’t go to bed angry at anyone if you can help it and try to see things from the other persons point of view. You’ll be happier.

Spent yesterday volunteering at a HUGE living facility that’s going to become a home for homeless families.  I’m not sure what this place was before we got there.  It didn’t feel like a motel or hostel, but didn’t feel like a house either.

Each room has it’s own full bathroom, so they are hoping to be able to provide housing for one family per room.  I think there were about 12 rooms and they are hoping to get four people per room (twin beds). It’s a tight fit, but much better than the alternative (the streets).  Each family will have their own refrigerator in the humongous kitchen, so cooking and eating will be communal, which I like the idea of.

We spent the entire day cleaning toilets, showers, floors, walls, windows, EVERYTHING. The building seemed like it had been abandoned for a bit.  A lot of stuff (like sinks and windows) had weird damage to them. There was still so much to do, but I think a lot got done. Next, they need painting and some repairs done, but I think they are waiting for more donations.

When I got home, my clothes were (still) soaked through with gross sweat (even after a fairly ling drive) and I was exhausted. It was a good feeling though.  Helping make a difference, even a small one, always feels good. I managed to shower and eat/drink, but that’s about it. I slept like the dead for ten and a half hours last night!! Very sore today, but it was so worth it!!

Ugh! I'm so tired, but I can't sleep. The countdown to when I have to get-up for work is on.....

It's only Tuesday, but it's been a challenging week.  Monday mid-day we got slammed with a project at work. On top of regular work. Exhausting!

I dropped my car off yesterday afternoon to get the protective coating applied (inside and out). I was fortunate enough to have a co-worker pick me up this morning and take me to work, but they weren't able to take me back to the dealership this afternoon (last minute family emergency came-up). It wasn't a problem, but it was the first time in a long time that I've taken the train to Union Station and then catch another train, then a Lyft. Walking through Union Station brought back so many sensory memories. The smells, the texture of the floors, the shine on the seating in the main terminal and the sunlight streaming in made me think of my last trip through a few years ago. I have to admit that I was wistful as I trudged my way up to my platform.

It took a looooong while, but I got to the dealer and picked-up my super-shiny car!  It's supposed to last 10 years (with a reapplication at 5 years). I hope it keeps the ride looking nice, it was expensive, even with the discount!!

I got home and didn't feel enough energy for cooking dinner, so I ate a handful of tortilla chips and two mini dark chocolate peanut butter cups, washed down with a Diet Coke. Alongside some breakfast bread, thats my intake for today. LOL, usually I eat really healthily, but sometimes I eat like a 5 year-old!!!

I just wish sleep would come, I'm running out of episodes of Southern Charm to watch!!!

Not much is happening here. Gotham and I are battling through the miserable summer weather though. Seriously looking into an additional a/c unit, if I can find an affordable portable unit.

Went to see Wendy Leibman perform at Flappers in Burbank this past weekend. Had a great time!! She's still as funny as I remember. I need to go to more comedy shows! The next one planned isn't until September.

My dad made a surprise visit last Friday morning..... with a trailer full of stuff. My living room looks like an antique furniture shop and my hallway looks like a storage closet. Argh!  It was good to see him though, even if it was for just a couple of hours. I can't believe he drove 12 hours down here (it takes longer with a trailer), slept a few hours, came to my house (I had to take some last-minute time off), unloaded stuff, went to my uncles' house to unload stuff there, went to lunch and then drove 9 hours home. I was really worried about him the entire time.

I am researching mattresses. Mine is so hot to sleep on, is getting old and needs to go!!! I can't believe how complicated and expensive mattresses are. I've been online looking at them constantly in my spare time and I went to a local Sit N Sleep to look at some in-person. It was a horrible experience.  The mattresses were so gross!! They didn't even try to keep them looking clean. Plus, the salesman didn't listen to any of my answers to his questions:

Him: what is your budget?
Me: (low balling him) Well, I really don't want to spend much more than $xxx.
Him: what kind of mattress are you looking for?
Me: well, I sleep REALLY hot, so a cooling mattress with inner springs and a tight top. I don't want to spend a ton though. I mean I don't want a cheapo mattress, but nothing insane either.
Him: how about this Sleep Number bed?
Me: seriously? Dude, that set is over $3,000! If I could afford that, I guarantee you I wouldn't be here looking at mattresses, I'd be paying someone to do it for me.
Him: oh. What about this one?
Me: that's a memory foam mattress, I said I was looking for one with inner springs and a tight top.
Him: okay, here is a good mattress, see how that feels.
Me: um, this is another foam mattress and it's getting hot with me just sitting on it.
Him: yeah, it does that.
Me: remember, I told you I sleep hot and need a cooling mattress.
Him: yeah. How about this floor model (that was $300 more than I told him I wanted to spend).
Me: it's kind of dirty and sagging for so much money.
Him: well, it's a floor model and it IS half off.
Me: so, yeah. I gotta go. Are you going to be here Saturday?
Him: for sure!
Me: okay, cool. I'll come back Saturday and we'll look at more.
As I'm leaving, I thought "there's no way I'm buying a mattress from this place".

There are so many different types of mattresses out there! I'm not tied to inner springs with a tight top, but cooling is imperative!!! Plus, I want one RIGHT NOW, but buying one online takes weeks to get and after my store trip, I'm hesitant about going someplace else.

If anyone has any tips, let me know.....