Around the World in a Whirlwind!* in Open Diary 2001-2018 (Pre-Prosebox)

Wow. It feels like a million years. And it feels like I’ve been around the world and back. Oh yeah…I have.

Ugh—a 16-day around-the-world business trip. Where am I? Where wasn’t I? I started in Sydney, moved on to Tokyo, then to Barcelona, and finally London before heading back to the US of A. Good trip, really good, but faaaaaarrr too long. *edit: just read back one entry and I thing I used the exact same verbiage in my description! And I was supposed to do a Boss Party Pants update! Well, there were only one or two torturous times–I think it’s because I had her up and running early in the mornings so that we were simply too tired to blow it out in the evenings! Smart cookie, eh?!*

I really wanted to write and write while I was gone, but I’m still borrowing Grrrrr’s laptop and he’s been sniffing around it when I get back from trips to see if I’m flirting around with boys. Ummmm. I guess in a way I have a little bit, but all very innocently (occasional emailing with “Dude” and the tiniest bit of flirty-flirt when I’m out and about, you know, drinking or whatever). Grrrr and I are practically engaged at this point, but I still need a little additional attention every now and then. I’ve changed a lot, but I wonder if that part of me will ever change?

I missed Grrrrr terribly while I was gone. And our reunion was especially nice. And yes, we really are talking very seriously as of late. I took the day off work the day after my return as a sanity break, and we went shopping for………..rings!! Oh boy.

I asked him if it would be okay to start getting [gasp] wedding magazines! I’ve even tried on a couple of [shock!!!] wedding DRESSES!?!!!?!!

AND we’ve even been looking at houses. What a whirlwind! So you see why I haven’t been writing? I don’t even know where to start!! But I really do need somewhere to put all this stuff that’s rolling through the brain because I am feeling a little loopy as of late.

And of course, it comes out in Grrrr’s direction because I don’t know where else to put it. I should use this as my outlet more often, really. Poor Grrrrrr.

Guess what? Grrrrr’s two kids are coming to stay with us for TWELVE days…starting next week! And guess what else? Grrrrr’s ex-wife and her new husband are coming tooooooooo [gritting teeth]!!! No, I haven’t met his kids yet because they live in Europe (again, long story). So, yeah…it’s a good idea to meet the kids before we do the engagement and buy a house and plan a wedding and all that hooplah, right?

I’m nervous about the whole thing, but I’m going to try, try, TRY to stay gracious and as good a hostess as I possibly can be. I’m making Easter baskets for the kids (his daughter is 8 and his son is 6), and I hope that wins me a couple of points with them. I’m not really getting all worked up about the fact that his kids are coming…it’s the fact that they don’t speak English (daughter is learning right now in school, so hopefully we’ll be okay there), and Grrrr has discouraged me to really learn much of their language because I won’t be able to use it very much anyway. And then the other thing is the EX. Which I shouldn’t get so upset about, I know, but I can’t help it. I think she’s really missing Grrrr. At least that’s what it seems like. She and Grrrr talk a lot on the phone (rationally, I KNOW it’s because of the kids, but they are SOo friendly with each other), and Grrrr’s even told me that she knows the grass isn’t greener on the other side (see, she abandoned Grrrrr AND their two kids for this guy she ended up marrying, and I think she’s hitting herself over the head for the mistakes she’s made). Grrrrr is such a wonderful, loving man. He may not be the most exciting guy in the world, but he’s silly and funny and handsome and caring and loving and dependable. Yeah, that dependable thing? It means a LOT!! A lot more than crazy times (even though we have those too). And I know what you’re asking yourself: If she abandoned her husband AND the kids (he was a stay-at-home dad) for another man, then why didn’t Grrrrr take custody of the kids in the divorce? Well, let’s just say that in this foreign country it’s almost impossible for the father to get the children (over the mother) in the first place, and I think the fact that her family is loaded also has something to do with it. I don’t exactly know, and I try not to ask a ton of questions about it because it’s so incredibly painful. I can’t even imagine how he gets through this day in and day out—not to see the children you raised from birth.

So anyway, it’s going to be fun and games come next Monday when we hop in a limo and pick up the family at the airport. I hope I can deal. I hope I can get through this without a breakdown. I may need this space more than ever.

In the meantime, here are just a couple pix from my around-the-world trip!!

A little run in Sydney Harbor

It was such a GORGEOUS day (this was February 24th, I believe).

A beer billboard in the subway in Tokyo

Taking the subway…

Yes, I ate a LOT of airplane food! This was on a plane from London to Barcelona (Iberia, in case you’re wondering…don’t really like the airline, but the food was dee-lish!)

Dried fruit at the market off La Rambla in Barcelona

What’s that next to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona? Why a Starbucks, of course!!

And I’ll end here with a perfect snack from a little café in London. YUM!