I hope you all had a fun Halloween.  You’ll all be bored to know that I spent mine right here at home, chilling in front of my laptop, sending out my writing to various publications.  Funny, I just wanted to relax tonight after a very long week…working up until the wee hours.  The only reason I got to leave at 5pm was because I told my boss I was going treat-or-treating with my nephews. That was the plan, but my mom’s sick and Therese didn’t want to take the kids trick-or-treating with the rain potential and my mom ill.  So I stayed home and scoured appropriate places to send my pieces.  I swear, I’m going to get published or die trying.

I want to thank everyone for their kind thoughts about getting on anti-depressants.  I’ve actually found the perfect solution.  It’s also perfect timing for me because my company is now in the middle of our annual benefits enrollment.  

I actually like that we’re in the midst of a recession.  Going out, eating out, taking fancy vacations, making unwise purchases.  It gets tiring after a while.  I haven’t gotten laid off.  My pay is not decreasing.  I expect my bonus to be even better than last year.  Yet, because of this economic doom, I’m hunkering down.  That’s right.  When I got a mani / pedi for my reunion, it was the first time I’d gone to the nail salon in six weeks.  SIX WEEKS!  I kept thinking, why spend $20+ every other week when I can cut and paint my own nails?  I don’t eat out as much as I used to. And if I do?  I make it brunch.  Cheaper than dinner.  

Yikes, sorry for being out of commission, I was busy finalizing the last minute details of our high school reunion this past weekend.  Overall, it was absolutely great.  Of course, there were lessons learned.  My one big disappointment was that the turnout on Sunday for mass at our school and the wine/cheese reception followed by a tour of the new campus was completely overshadowed by the previous night’s bar event.

At what point are you middle-aged?  I remember, when I was in high school, there was a popular TV show called thirtysomething.  I couldn’t understand what the whoopla was all about as I quickly bypassed it while channel surfing.  The cast of characters with toddlers slung around their hips looked so boring.  I much preferred Life Goes On which centered on a family with two kids my own age—one of whom with down syndrome—as they struggled with teenage peer pressure and romance.  I think my instincts were true even then because thirtysomethings are quite boring.  I include myself in that pack.  In my teens, there was acne, menstruation, and drama.  Always drama.  In my twenties, I was restless.  I hated my first job.  I felt inadequate and inexperienced, but at least I had stories.  Stories about crazy roommates or moonlighting or not having insurance and standing in line at the city clinic.  I didn’t know what to do, where to settle, who to love.  As a single middle-aged woman, I still don’t know who to love, but I’m content which makes for a boring plot.  I assume it gets even worse from here.  The older you get, the more cautious you become.  Buy more life insurance, max out your 401K, draft up the will.  Thirtysomethings aren’t quite there yet.  We’re respected in our jobs.  Our careers have taken off.  We’re passionate about our interests.   For the most part, I think thirtysomethings are quite happy—except no drama.