In the land of the once again healthy (finally), today was another fabulous massage day. The whole weekend was lovely and relaxing actually, which was so nice since this week is going to be the start of crazy-busy again, especially at work. It's all good, but I don't feel prepared for the end of quiet summer. I'm not ready. It's sped by too fast. Next week I'll go back to tutoring and, while I'm excited to see the girls again, I'm just, you know, shocked that it's time to go back. Already.

This week I'm heading to Tucson for a few days for the Grace Hopper Conference. I haven't travel-traveled since Paris, so this will be a definite change of pace for me right now. On one hand, with the upcoming busyness of work, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed about going, but on the other, I always enjoy this conference, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm also looking forward to the hot weather for one last blast of summer and the fact that the hotel has a gym, because I really need to get myself back to the gym on a regular schedule. I feel better when I do, and it's time.

Today felt so much like chilly fall. After my massage, I dropped off a bunch of clothes for the Northwest Center, and then I headed off to have the oil changed in my car at Jiffy Lube. It wasn't busy at all, so that was awesome, but I ended up having this bizarro stilted conversation outside with the guy handling the transaction. When he asked me about my oil preference, and I dug out the information on what I've been using from the glove box, he examined the forms, noted the type and price, and decided to knock ten bucks off the oil change. Okaaaaaay. Then, while talking with me about something else, I commented that the weather seemed cold today. He replied with, "Well, that's because you're standing in the shade." I was like, I guess. So weird! Then he wanted to talk about the Scion for a while. They were nice and all there, but I couldn't wait to leave. This is how I feel when I have to do anything related to cars. Last time I was at the dealership, they told me that I'd need to have my brakes changed soon, so that stressed me out. I had my brakes checked this summer, and they are fine. Hmph. I want to know who you can trust when it comes to cars?

I'm still making my way through the fourth Twilight book, Breaking Dawn. The reason is that it's reached a point that's kinda hard to get through. I find myself starting to skip sections to get to the end, and I realize I have about zero interest in finding out what happens. And yet, I've come this far, so I'll at least read the end. I still have a big pile of books to read, but I think I'll start Elizabeth Moon's The Speed of Dark next.

Friend Chris in Minneapolis is coming for a visit in November! We haven't seen each other in a long while now, so I'm looking forward to that a lot. This year, the fam is going to have a very merry Disney Christmas at Disneyland. We decided to forgo the usual gift exchange and just take a trip together, which is good news to me. I think Disneyland with Trav is going to be lots of fun, and I'm ready to ditch the stress of gifting for the fun of Space Mountaining. But, I will not go on the It's a Small World ride. That thing is like a terrible nightmare. I have the urge to jump ship and just end it while drifting through that colorful disaster while the song plays over and over again. Aaaaaaaaaaah! No can do.

Trav's birthday was lots of fun! The entire fam met up in Portland last weekend for Trav's pool party. It was really cute. One of Trav's little friends, Ava, didn't have anyone to swim with since her mom forgot her suit, so I changed to take her into the pool. I automatically liked Ava for her name, due to my childhood fascination with Ava Gardner, but she was just the sweetest little three year old. Very affectionate. She liked jumping in and being in the water kicking, splashing, and blowing bubbles. She always wanted to be on the go. It was great! When we passed Molly and Trav swimming, I had to giggle. He was overly decked out in a life jacket, one of those floating tube thingys, and orange goggles. Crazy. I couldn't help but say, what a geek! Yes, I called my nephew a geek. You would have too. He's a very cute geek, but, man, his get-up was cracking me up. But, I had a fun time swimming with him in his geeky glory.

Now that I'm coming to grips with end of the season of True Blood, I need something to fill the void. Em and I have started to watch the new Bored to Death on HBO. It's looking pretty good so far. Not sure it's a TB replacement, but I always really like Jason Schwartzman.

Whew, it's been a long time since I've written much. I will get back into my writing mode again soon. I know it!