I'm suffering from...

... a new disease.

I received an e-mail from a good friend the other day. She was inviting me for a couple of girl's night out this week. This was my response to her.

Hi T,

Sorry I haven't responded to your invite sooner. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it as I am suffering from a nasty case of "Summer Broke-i-tis". This is a terrible condition that has afflicted me for two...count 'em 1...2, two summers in a row. My daily allergy pill doesn't seem to be helping at all. I'm hoping for vaccine, followed by an annual booster to be available soon.

I hope you have fun though, and please tell all the girls I said hello.

Miss ya,
TN

Now just to be clear, I'm not upset about not being able to go out. A bit bummed yes, but that was the price I knew I'd have to pay to have this much time off. As long as my bills are paid and I have a little extra to spend on Haven, I'm good.

Last summer I worked my hiney off, but I was in the process of paying off a very large debt and had less to live on than I do this summer.

I was really quite of proud of myself for going without all the extras, yet having everything I needed. And I'm doing it again this summer but the difference being is the time. I have lots of free time. I haven't had that luxury in many years and I'm loving it. I have been taking Haven a few times a week and we've been having a blast together. Watching her grow and develop into such a sweet, charming little being is just blowing my mind and that's priceless.

Today I took Haven to my favorite Chinese restaurant again and we had the same server. His name is Raymond and doesn't speak English very well, but one thing he made very clear was that he was smitten with her. He just lingered at our table whenever he checked on us. As soon as he went to touch her face like he did last time , I stopped him, politely. And just to note, the food is always good but the service isn't usually that great. You're lucky if they check back after they drop off your food. I could tell by the look on her face that she was getting uncomfortable with his attention and I thought she was going to start to cry when all of a sudden she looked up at him and waved bye-bye. He laughed and said, "ha, ha...she tell me to go". Indeed, she did.

When we walked up to the front to pay, another server, a woman, was making a fuss about Haven's eyebrows. Now I know this little girl has got some brows and always has. Since the day she was born that was one feature that stuck out. At first I didn't know what the lady was getting at because she was speaking her language to another server, but she said to me, "oh no...they perfect...I never see the eyebrows on the baby like that before...she got two...like they pluck". And then she proceeded to run her finger along my Sugar Cookie's eyebrow. What the hell is it with people just freely touching small babies they don't know?...especially on the face!