As The Rain Falls on 279

I drove back from my date with myself in the pouring rain. And by pouring rain - I mean torrential downpour. And by torrential downpour - I mean whatever is more rainy than that. People were pulled over on the side of the highway because it was so hard to see and to also avoid hydroplaning. I, myself, was in a rush to get home because I mistakenly left all of the windows open - not knowing it was going to downpour.

That is neither here nor there. Today I went on a date with myself. I didn't want to sit alone on my couch all day, like most days. So I drove myself to the movies and saw Get Smart. It was wonderful to sit and laugh for a while. Even if "a while" was only one hour and fifty minutes.

I hated to spend the money ... almost 20 dollars on a ticket, popcorn and a soda! But I yearned for the distraction. I'm not sure how many times I have found myself in this same scenario, or why it never seems to be avoided, but it is a quiet reality I am having trouble facing today.

Pittsburgh has been home for 15 months now. And I can cound on half of one hand the number of friends I regularly see or do things with. There are two. I love them both to death. They are lifelong friends, for sure.

One travels for a living almost as much as I do. The other has a family. So their time is often occupied with much more important matters than me. This is something I truly understand.

But I do wish that I had more than two friends here to my name. The majority of my friends live in other cities. My life has always been that way. It is both a blessing and a curse. It gives me multiple reasons to get away for a day or two. But it often leaves me lonely. Not able to see or talk to them as often as I would like.

In other news, I'm still nursing my throat/voice back to health. I went to the doctor for the second time in 10 days today. I am now on a regimen consisting of an anti-inflammatory steroid, Nasonex, plenty of fluids and "Vocal rest". In other words, if I am not working, I should not be talking or singing - according to my doctor.

I'm currently not doing well in the "vocal rest" category ... so pray for me.