Probably more than anyone needs to know...

Took off last Thursday and Friday to spend an extra-long weekend with my honey (aka Barry)... Thursday was his 40th birthday... he didn't want to make a big deal over it, and I knew I needed to let him celebrate it how he wanted -- but difficulty was trying to come to the conclusion / decision of what he wanted... Original plans were for a big trip somewhere, which turned into getting an SUV, which turned into nothing... which I wasn't about to have... so it turned into us spending four days together in stress-free relaxation at home. And shopping for TVs... and living room furniture... to make our house more "our home"...

It really was a very nice weekend... and we enjoyed each other's company immensely. Turning 40 for Barry wasn't a major thing -- at least he didn't give an impression as-such... I think he liked it that way... in-fact, I think the fact that no one bothered him or made a big deal out of it was exactly the way he wanted it.
(Please note, that being said, for my 40th [in 6 years], I want huge celebrations and a big trip... At least, that's how I feel now, LOL! We'll see how I feel in 6 years.)

So, we did go shopping and looked at a lot of High-Def TVs... and learned all kinds of things about them... and came to our decision -- and actually ordered it online (Amazon had cheapest price by-far [over $600 cheaper than anywhere else, including brick-and-mortar stores]). So here's Barry's birthday present:
Samsung LNS4692D 46" LCD HDTV


It's arriving this Friday... OMG I can't wait. (Yes, I admit, his gift is partially mine to enjoy... but seriously, it's for him...)

Also arriving this Friday... our new living room furniture... a large sectional...
Lane South Beach Fabric Sectional

(No, we aren't getting the exact configuration shown... but it's that product... we're getting the reclining-armed-ends, two reclining-middles, and the two corner wedges.)

We also got new curtains -- with a "Moroccan" style to them (gold and navy blue)... very nice... Living room may be done soon... we just need to put in the wood (pergo) flooring...

OK... so that's the latest home update... Work is going OK... except my boss is still getting on my nerves with his "lack of interest" in my work... and things are starting to build-up here and I've been putting them off (like I always seem to do)... and pretty-soon "D-DAY" is going to arrive and I'm going to be a stressed little puppy...

But with that TV and sectional to come home to... I think I can deal with a little stress. ;)

Last night, Barry and I went out with Ken & Don for dinner... and drinks... and ended up at Diamonz (local gay bar)... Sang karaoke and drank way too much beer... my head is hurting BIG TIME today... UGH! And I had to wake up early and get in around 8am to meet with my boss... My day has been flying by (thankfully)... but I've still got a pounding headache and upset stomach... and just can't wait to get out of here. I bet the other guys were feeling it this morning too... *sigh*

So things here at work with my software are starting to get more intense... the recent changes had me worried that my job might go away... but definitely turning in the other direction now: they are going to cause a lot more work for me. Which on one hand is a very good thing... but on the other hand, I'm really not sure I'm ready for this. My new boss has a very different way of working... and in order for things to happen now I've really got to step-up and take charge of things. I've got to make some drastic changes and figure out how and what is going to happen... and I'm not feeling very confident in myself... It's going to be a big learning/growing experience for me over the next few months. I feel it... I'm at one of those "turning points" in my life... a point which is going to change me and what I do... I'm not sure I'm ready for it... but the snowball is already rolling down the hill and I can't stop it...

Just saw Paris Hilton's video "Nothing in this World"... and for some reason it totally inspired me to make a journal entry. (Rambling deep thoughts...)

So in this video, a poor kid (aka dork) is getting bullied in school... but dreams of Paris Hilton being his girl... and then one day she moves in next to him... and he asks if she'll go to the school with him... and she does... and everyone's jaw drops... yada, yada, yada...
Cheesy, I know... but somehow... gave me the chills... and was just totally cute!
And they flashed the words "Dare to Dream"... what a great journal entry I thought.
Dork that I am... I still dare to dream.
I think sometimes (quite a bit recently) I think that I can't dream anymore... and that my old dreams are just never going to come true...
but then... sometimes... I think that perhaps my dreams have just changed... and that's OK.
But... the problem is when I don't dream anymore... or feel I can't...
that loss of hope... you know what I mean?
But there is hope, and there are dreams...
just lots of new dreams...
so don't get hung up on your old dreams... just because they were old dreams that may not have happened...
make up some new dreams...
just don't stop dreaming.

I've been distant from LJ for a while... There's several factors as-to why... some good, some not-so-good, and some just-because I'm busy... But I'm going to spend a few minutes catching-up on some LJ friends dreams now...

Barry and I had a nice weekend at camp. Weather is definitely getting chillier up there... I can't believe there's only 4 more weekends left. We went to bed early on Friday, and did some errands (like fill Propane tank) on Saturday. Then we hung out with our neighbors (Frank & David) and celebrated Ariel's wedding with some cocktails. (The whole "Ariel" thing is a long, long story, involving humorous incidents and anecdotes with dolls and such -- starting with our neighbors playing with an Ariel [the little mermaid] doll in the stream... culminating into the big wedding reception and her return this weekend.) The cocktails were strong... and I quickly surpassed my limit, and proceeded to get super drunk. The stories I heard the next morning were of me, being "mr social" at the leather party and hugging everyone and being very flirtatious. I wish I could remember -- it sounds like I had a really good time. But, alas, I was "drunk girl" and don't remember anything... and "paid for it" on Sunday... I'm still recovering a little. UGH! I hate when I get that drunk and sick... I'm never going to drink [that much] again!

Past weekend was Celtic Classic here in Bethlehem. It was awesome!

Friday I went alone and just kind of "chilled" -- it was nice to spend a night out on my own just walking around town.

Saturday Robyn came over with several friends and we all started drinking at about noon... and didn't stop until about midnight. Wow... a lot of fun was had by all... I bought a shirt that had "I *heart* Irish Boys" written on it and wore it with my kilt. I thought I would get some looks... but I had no idea how much fun it would be. SO many double-takes and funny looks and comments. At one point I was skipping along to the porta-pots with Robyn and a woman stopped us and asked me if I knew my shirt said "Boys" on it... Apparently it didn't phase me at all and we both said something along the lines of "Ummm, YEAH!" and then proceeded to skip off to pee. Also of note was the hottie that came up to me and took a picture under my kilt... I of-course ask for reciprocation and grabbed my friend's camera. (I don't think he was too thrilled about that picture being on his camera... LOL! I told him to email it to me.) Then we ended our "kilt-camera-taking" with a kiss. Whoo hoo... kissing a hottie in public while drunk... *jeez* It was a crazy-fun day...

Sunday was MUCH more subdued... I spent most of the day recovering and taking it easy... Went to the fest for some lunch... cut the grass... did laundry... Barry had been at camp all weekend... and I was missing him something fierce when he finally got home. Had a nice relaxing evening and felt all satisfied that it was a great weekend.

OK... so I know I'm way behind on news... but I just found out yesterday that Steve Irwin (Crocodile Hunter) died!! And was stabbed in the chest by a stingray.
Link to WikiNews Article

So to all those out there who have made fun of my intense fear of stingrays... all I have to say is: I told you so! And, I will never, ever even consider "swimming with the rays"... ever...

I don't know why... but this news made me very sad.

*phew*... *yawn*... *stretch*... What a weekend! Holy crap... I feel worn-out.

This weekend, a whole crew from Scranton area came... old Scouting friends and family... Sean, Jen, Morgan; Chris; Bob; Brenda, John, two friends; Marty, JoAnn; Helen, Les; Shawn, Delena, two friends; Dale, Ellie, Tiffany. And there were others too: David and his partner Gary came up from Florida. And then, I also hosted Robyn, Sean, Kim, and Carolyn at the house. And then there were tons of other misc friends and family out-and-about all weekend randomly meeting-up at the festival. It was quite a big weekend for me social and energizing and fun... But also I'm out of shape... and can't keep-up with the activity like I used to.

Friday night started with 18 of us (from the "Scranton Crew") eating at Bucca de Beppo... in the "Pope Room" :) So much fun. Helen brought a large bottle of Goldschlager and dixie-cups... LOL! Yes... we did our own shots around the table... jeez... so "sneaky" LOL! But so much fun...
After that I went out with friends at the Brew Works and closed the place... and hot-tubbed with Kim in a friend's backyard... and 20-piece McNuggets... at 3am... and up the next morning at 9 to party all day long... Well... I lasted about half the day before I needed a nap... and then continued the festing. Most everyone pooped-out early... including myself... so we got our nuggets early (1am) and just went to bed.

This morning I woke up early (9am) to join the "Scranton Crew" for breakfast at their hotel and then joined the remaining of them for lunch at the festival. Kim and I are now sitting here in the condo... enjoying the air conditioning, watching videos on TV and uTube... and just chatting. Reminiscing about "the good ol days" when Musikfest was a 10-day orgy of beer drinking and partying. Why is it that we can't last like we used to? Is it that we're getting old, we're out-of-practice, or is it the festival -- has it gotten commercialized and the bands aren't as fun? Or is it just a combination of a lot of things? I guess it's one of those things that time just changes... There's no going back... reminiscing is nice... but there's a point to which we've got to let them go to make room for new memories and fun.

So being a bit nostolgic right now... and sitting here relaxing... recovering from the weekend... taking a bit longer for me to recover anymore...
Yet...
I can't wait for Celtic Classic...
;)

But for right now... I also can't wait to take a nap. ;)

Barry and I took off Thursday and Friday last week... we decided that because we weren't going to Hershey on Thursday, we'd make a four day weekend out of it. Don't really know if we "should" have taken off... Barry has had so much to do at work and I'm sure taking the two days did not help much for that... but being with Barry for the two days was really nice... He said to me last week, "I don't care what we do, I just want to be with you." That was really sweet... and we did have a very enjoyable time.

I have to say that we "planned" to do a lot more than we actually were able to do... but never-the-less, we did get a lot accomplished and managed not to rush ourselves.

Thursday we spent the day sleeping-in and then went shopping. We went looking for ideas for some statues to place around our campsite and on the new deck... we shopped for a table and chairs for the deck... and we also started looking into ideas for our "water-feature" that we want to create around the tree on our deck. Had massages that evening, and slept in on Friday... Friday, we did our grocery shopping and jetted up to camp... Really enjoyed our day and evening.

Saturday afternoon, my friends Sean & Jen had a big BBQ and pool party at their house in Scranton. We went there and I really had a great time. These are all the people that I just came out to a few days ago. They all basically knew already and all were SO supportive of me. I told Barry, these people are my second family. And seriously, they are... I grew up at Sean's house almost as much as my own house. The kids all have grown so much and don't recognize me... I mean, I haven't seen them in almost three years I think. It really hit me a little hard when this one kid (who's like 11 or 12 now) didn't remember who I was. I've been away from them all for far too long... hiding from them afraid to come out... and there was no reason too. Some of them even grumbled that I should have come out sooner because they missed me. I really look forward to regaining friendships with them... They are all coming down for Musikfest in two weeks... I CAN'T WAIT!

We left the party a little early, but that allowed us to get back to camp before dark and we even threw together some costumes for the "Masquerade Ball" that evening... Barry actually put on a dress!! Too fun! Another friend, Tom, was trying drag for the first time, and with his encouragement, Barry threw on a dress too... and Heidi Ho came out as "Betty Jo Ho, her cousin from Idaho". (I'm hoping for a picture that someone took...)

Barry got wasted... I felt bad for him the next morning... we didn't wake up until 1pm. And therefore missed our opportunity to return some lumber to Homo Depot (by borrowing Joe's truck)... but I think it will all work-out anyway... we're going to keep the big lumber for when we build our guest house next year... not to mention, who knows what else we may build. :)

OK... that's the recap... now it's 1pm on Monday... and I've done basically nothing all day. I've caught-up on LJ postings... and checked my work email... and had lunch... but now I've GOT to get some real work done!

Wow... OK... so I finally did it...

I came out to my old "Scouting" friends... People I've been out of touch with for a while... but really miss... and want to get back to being friends with. Plus, I'll be seeing several of them this weekend.

So I just sent off a bunch of personalize emails to them coming out to them... I'm happy I did it... another step on my "coming out" road... even though this step has taken over 4 years to do.