Jane's Social Networking Adventures Part One

Now that I am single again and being the anti-social introvert that I am, putting myself "out there" is always sometimes an agonizing process. But if I don't want to turn into the crazy cat lady, which is tempting believe me, then I have to make the effort to be somewhat sociable. But...doing what...and with whom?

Don't get me wrong - I have a lot of fun with my kittens! Why, just 2 minutes ago I caught Lily carrying around a red twist tie in her mouth - she looked like she had a fu manchu moustache! We I had a good laugh together as I put it in the garbage.

So last night I went to a "games night" that takes place at a nearby elementary school once a month. Though it was touch and go throughout the day. My inner dialogue went something like this:

"you should go, you'll have fun"
"but I could stay here and watch something on Netflix"
"I won't know anybody"
"and you'll continue not to know anybody if you just stay home all the time"
"but what if I don't know how to play the games, what if I make stupid mistakes?"
"there's going to be PIZZA!"
"what if I walk in and everyone is playing a game and there's nowhere for me to sit?"
"it's a cheap night, $5.00 for pizza, a toonie for a 50/50 draw, and if you're not having fun you can always LEAVE!"
"I might have fun"
"I don't need more friends"
"yes, you do"
"what if nobody likes me?"
"what if they do?!"
"sigh..."
"just try it once and see what it's like"...

I changed my mind about 100 times. And then I just got ready and went.

When I walked into the gym full of tables many games were already underway. I was greeted by 3 different people who showed me where to put my coat, where the washrooms were, where to sign up and pay for pizza and which table could use another player. Boom boom boom, just like that!

I knew a couple of people in the room as they are also in my hiking group so that helped. And when I joined into the game of "Hedbanz" where players wear a red head band it reminded me of this guy...

...Karnak! We had to place a card at the front of our headband and ask yes/no questions to figure out what, where or who we were! Believe me, sitting at a table full of people wearing red head bands breaks the ice quickly!

Then we played "Cranium" - which I love! - the highlight of which was when I had to sculpt an umbilical cord out of purple playdough! And my partner guessed it correctly - woo hoo! The last game we played, after gorging on pizza and chips and squares and pop, was "Balderdash". I've always loved that game since we used to play it as kids way back before it was a "real" game. We used to use dictionaries and either make up a meaning or write down the correct one of obscure words. Now it's become a real board game and we had a hilarious time, I killed myself laughing and we can't wait to play it again next time.

This morning I made myself go on a hike (in the rain) and it was fun reliving those hilarious moments with the two hikers who were also at the games night. And tonight I'm getting together with my oldest friend, Jules, to see the movie "Interstellar".  So that is one action-packed weekend. I will feel NO GUILT staying home with my feline friends during the upcoming week! Though, if the weather is decent, I will try to get out for hikes on Tuesday and Thursday :)

"I vant to be alone".....(read with German accent)....(as if you were Greta Garbo)...

Most, if not all, of you understand the need to be alone sometimes...not lonely, just peacefully, restfully, refreshingly, revitalizing (etc etc) alone. Sigh...

Not wanting to sound  ungrateful, I  just got home from yet another dinner. There was nothing wrong with it, it wasn't horrible, or loud, or long, in fact it was very nice. One of my students wanted to take my dep't head, Fil, and me out to dinner. It was lovely but I'm so very tired of being ON if you know what I mean. I can be sociable in small amounts, in spurts, but then I need to rest and re-energize. The last few weeks there have been too many dinners, lunches, breakfasts, parties, open houses, BBQs, drinks, cakes and I just want it to END!! Or at least have a breather - thankfully it's the weekend.

Here we are with our young date being photographed by the waitress while a sparkler sizzles away in our complimentary baklava. I think I have perfected my smile over the last few weeks to the point where I don't really have to think about it anymore. That sounds insincere but truly I just need to fully charge my batteries.

Am I being a whiner? I hope not. I gave tonight's dinner my best effort as it really was wonderful that Josh wanted to do this for us. We had great food, and good conversation - oh, and next to us a fellow proposed to his girlfriend (she said yes!!) plus there was a birthday celebrated at another table and then we were applauded for our retirement so it will be a memorable night for all.

When I'm feeling utterly exhausted I imagine sitting in my truck, the miles flying by, arriving at Crofters Lane, making a pot of coffee (after I figure out how to turn the water back on!), sitting on the front porch and looking out over the bay and letting my mind drift. IT WILL HAPPEN-JUST NOT QUITE YET!!

I must summon reserves of energy to power me through one more week. I can do it. Only 5 more days of school - on Thursday I get to work at home - yeehaw - and on Friday we have breakfast at school, mass, a meeting and then yet another luncheon and then FREEDOM (so really that's only 3 days of school!!) Oh, but let's not forget getting together with friends on Friday night - oh my. I should have been a cloistered nun! No, not really, I will enjoy the social activities as much as I can and then I will relish my alone time even more. Oh, and one more dinner with another set of parents next week, lol.

Truly - I'll be fasting and biking a hundred miles a day to get rid of all this blubber around my middle - I kid you not. I've never seen so much CAKE!!!

OK, gotta go. Going to take my glass of wine to bed with me, who cares if it isn't even 9pm yet? I need to quiet my mind, listen to an audio book (I have a new Louise Penny mystery and it's wonderful!) and ease on into a rejuvenating sleep.

Good night!

Oh, and Barb - when I get to Summerside in PEI I'm going to check into wifi - hopefully without having to be on a year long contract (since I'll just be there for 5 months) - the intent is to continue recording my journey - the trials and tribulations - la deuxieme partie!!