I was so enormously tickled by Miz Angie’s comment yesterday that it prompted something in me. Especially the “heifer” part. But I’m partial to the “high yella heifer” that I’ve been called so often in my lifetime. Still, it jump-started something.

The need to write. Not the want to respond per se, but the need to put pen to paper.

Or fingers to keyboard. You get my drift.

Let’s establish here and now that not one thing was offensive to me or taken the wrong way. It’s probably due to the fact that I’ve never been the person whom everyone thinks things work out for. In fact, most things come difficult for me but I work at making them look easy. Like when you trip over your own feet, tumble, do a graceful somersault and say, “I meant to do that.” Getting prepared for that job interview in front of nine people was daunting and the thing that irks me the most is that I feel like I wasted my time because it was a done deal before I walked in there.

And nobody told me. Nobody knew.

Still, it’s past. I’m done with it and will chalk it up to a good experience. Do you know what I feel great about? The fact that I interviewed well and had a good, solid, well-prepared answer for everything. I couldn’t have done any better and have promised myself that I won’t take it personally because it wasn’t me. It wasn’t for me, either. Obviously.

Things rarely “work out for me”. Most of my decisions are reactions to other stupid decisions I’ve made. It fits well with my “do first, ask forgiveness later” mantra. But, for the most part, I don’t ever think anyone wants to be me or be like me or mirror my life. That’s just not been how things work out in my existence.

Yesterday I told some colleagues that I’m going on my first vacation. Ever. I’ve gone on “family trips” and once JUST ONCE we rented a chalet with some friends of ours in the Smoky Mountains. One of the teachers exclaimed, “What? Are you serious? Nu-huhhh. This isn’t your first vacation! Is it?” But it is. It’s the first time I’ve booked a flight (not for a business trip) and rented a condo (instead of a hotel) and planned on doing nothing except reading a book on the beach.

Without kids. Without the husband. Just me and a girlfriend who is getting her master’s degree with me.

No schedule. No big plans. Nobody asking me to watch them play XBox or find them AA batteries or make them a sandwich.

We decided that we couldn’t wait until this summer to take a break and that we’d been working really hard for two years and this trip was going to happen AND HAPPEN NOW BEFORE MY FAMILY VISITED ME IN PRISON FOR MAIMING BABY PANDAS AND CRUSHING UP THEIR BONES BECAUSE OF THE STRESS.

So… no. No one’s ever wanted to be me. Except maybe some people will be just a wee bit jealous for my time on a Florida beach next week. But I’ll be a tan heifer by that time. I’m certain that mostly people will be happy for me and know how much I need this vacation.

See you when I get back.

I wanted my old stand-by of a latte or my new favorite Cafe Americano, but went with the Double Tall Toffee Nut Latte and wasn’t disappointed. I only wish there was more of it, but it looks like it’s only once size. Fine. Tomorrow, I order two of them.

It’s about all I can muster right now.

• That job thing I didn’t get? I can’t talk about it. Plus, I’m not one to wallow.
• Wallowing is for when your best friend in third grade steals your Junior Mints or tells everyone that you were eating your boogers in the bathroom.
• Neither of those things ever happened to me.
• I’m getting back up on the proverbial horse and keeping my resume current.
• I really want to use some cuss words right now.
• I’m trying hard not to do that and have hit my delete button so much that some of the letters have rubbed off and it just reads “dele”.
• That is pronounced “deli” and don’t you want a really good sandwich now? A corned beef on rye with a cream soda and a pickle on the side? Me, too.
• Did you miss the way my brain works going from resumes to eating?
• Good lord, I got 139 emails after that one post and I can’t possibly reply to them all!
• I now like the term “resume builder” and am thinking of adding it to my business card.
• What in the world have y’all been up to? Anyone get a new tattoo? A bad haircut? A good makeout cd?
• I have this wild idea that I won’t have to quit, but that I still am taking a break. So what am I doing writing this post?

1. Maybe a better job will come along.

2. When one door closes, another opens.

3. Well, you were the best person for the job. Don’t worry! You’ll get something.

4. Maybe you can write that book/start blogging again/buy some new shoes.

5. Awwwwww.

A loverly lady sent me some Millstone samples about which I have yet to write, but seeing as today is a holiday in Illinois, I have time to make coffee at home! And write about it! While I plan on having a decaf friend write about the decaf coffee they gave me, I decided to try the Vermont Maple and wasn’t, truthfully, expecting good results. It’s ground already and the bag smelled quite strong so I was thinking it would be an overpowering taste. Surprise! It wasn’t. So long as you don’t add anything to it to distract the flavor, it’s fine.