1. Got an e-mail from the husband of my good friend this week to see if I would arrange a double date with him and his wife and me and Doc. Evidently I mentioned my desire to see "The Town" at work and she happened to tell him and - voila! - Weekend plans. I don't get to see my friends as often as I'd like to because they've got the responsibilities that accompany marriage including home/yard maintenance, kids, balancing work schedules, etc., so it's nice that we were able to set something up on such short notice. I love having something to look forward to.
2. My computer is making weird noises which concerns me only because it doesn't usually and deviations from the norm are typically a sign that something is amiss. Every so often, I hear this random click-type sound... although upon further inspection it's not really a "click" and I have absolutely no way of describing what it is in a way that can get me a diagnosis, short of bringing it to Apple. And if I opt for the latter option, I'm likely to be laughed out of the store because this computer is about six years old anyway and the fact that it's survived this long is nothing short of a miracle, I'm sure.
3. Guilty pleasure lately: General Hospital. I used to watch this show growing up, especially through high school, and always loved it. I stopped watching in college, partly because my favorite characters left and partly because the storylines seemed far too implausible to be believeable, even for daytime television. Lately, though, with the return of one of my favorite characters, I've made it a point to be home to watch it and over the last few weeks, I notice I've been sucked back in. The women behind the feminist movement would probably want to slap me silly for entertaining the thought of coming home to watch a cheesy soap opera. While I have, on occasion, gone back to work afterwards, for the most part I set up on the couch with my laptop or a book to enjoy the quietness of the afternoon. It's a nice way to wind down from the craziness at work.
4. It struck me yesterday: Oreo is quite possibly the neediest cat on the face of the Earth. I find I can't leave home for long periods of time without worrying that he'll be mad at me for my prolonged absence and whenever I come home, he's impatiently waiting for me and greets me with a series of head-buts as if I'm his feline momma. I planned a recent trip back to my parents' around him (I spent just 24 hours there, rationalizing that Oreo would have spent a majority of the time fast asleep on one of my softest, coziest blankets) and when I came home, he wouldn't leave me alone. When Doc is here, Oreo likes to make his presence known, too. He is often front and center, demanding attention (mostly from Doc, not really me). He's been known to curl up in a tight ball on our laps while we watch TV, purring contentedly as we absently pet his silky fur. Whenever I walk out of the room, he follows me. Whenever I lock him out of my bedroom, he sits in front of the door, pawing the doorknob, whining to come inside... He continues to meow until I open the door (which I'm sure the experts would say is the reason he whines so frequently; he knows I'm going to come to him and he'll get what he wants eventually). Last night, while watching TV, I tossed one of his favorite toys around and the more I played with him, the more he developed a love for the game of fetch. Coupled with all of his crazy antics, the sudden interest in fetch convinced me...Oreo thinks he's a dog. Cats are supposed to be fiercly independent. He's got a sense of loyalty I find endearing.
5. Sometimes I wonder what life will be like in five years. This weekend is "Nostalgia Day" in Palmer and I find myself becoming more nostalgic about my own life as I look back on the history of the town. I can't believe I've been here for four years. I've been out of my parents' house since I was 18 and left for college. I feel like life is flying by and while I try to be an active participant in the present, I can't help but pause and try to plan my future. Five years ago, if I was told I'd be living two hours away from my hometown, just 20 minutes from where I graduated college, I'd have laughed uncontrollably. When I first moved here, I told myself it was just for a year to gain experience as a reporter. Today, I can't imagine leaving. I can't imagine not living in this small town, tucked away in a house in the middle of the woods off one of the many windy, wooded neighborhoods. I don't lack dreams; I know exactly what I want. But now, just as in five years ago, I have no idea how to go about attaining that. I suppose I should live life and enjoy what I have today without worrying about what the future will bring.
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