I’m home from work and I’m going to get ready because we’re going out with friends tonight for my birthday. It occurred to me that I haven’t (a) showered in 2 days or (b) shaved my legs in about a week. I feel like women way-back-when who only washed their hair on church days. Of course, I don’t ever wash my hair since I stopped using shampoo in 2003, but you know what I mean.

So, because I love my family and friends and don’t want them whispering about my stench behind my back, I’m going to bathe before we go out. Since LilZ went to see his Dad for the weekend, I’m actually home alone for a few minutes before MrZ and NikkiZ make it so I’m trying to hurry and get the dogs walked so I can actually soak in the tub in PEACE without a toddler pointing to my naked body and saying, “Boobie!” over and over again. It’s cute the first time, but now? It’s just making me self conscious. Especially when she laughs.

Have you ever fallen in love with something and then have it discontinued? Well, that happened to me when Janet first turned me on to Sandalwood and Rose from Bath and Body Works. I loved the stuff and would look forward to baths soaking in that aroma. Even MrZ loved it and said it made me smell “sexy” - which is a total step up from “like dirty diapers.” But then - what did they do? They took it off the shelves and I cried and cried.

But then today - I went to return some items to the mall on my lunch break and saw that Bath and Body Works was having a sale so I walked in to pick up some air-fresheners. I rounded the corner and what did I see? BINS full of my Sandalwood and Rose with signs that said, “Old Favorites Back for a Limited Time!” and they were ON SALE. The bath milk stuff was $13 a pop, but today? FIVE DOLLARS! Can you believe it? It’s like the aromatherapy gods smiled upon me today! I just want to leave work early and go home and BATHE! ALL NIGHT LONG! I’m so happy.

I would have bought the entire stock if I had money, but my family kinda likes to eat dinner once in awhile. They actually care more about nutrition than my body wash. Can you believe that? Bah. Them and their wacked-out priorities. But - I did buy enough to keep me smelling pretty for at least a month. Possibly longer since sometimes I just forget to shower. A habit my husband would love for me to break.

Yesterday morning I had to recruit my friend Stace to help me go pickup my husband’s car from the place he had left it the night before. It was very early for a Sunday and I called her with a bit of panic in my voice since I realized I needed to be on the road heading south to get LilZ in about 20 minutes. In that 20 minutes I needed to get his car, bring it back home, get gas, and find my Harry Potter CDs for the trip. “Panic” may actually be an understatement. I may have actually frantically screamed, “OHMYGOD. INEEDYOURHELPRIGHTNOW. NOW!!!”

She was all, “Of course I’ll help you, but I’m kind nasty since I spent most of yesterday at the pool and I just woke up this morning.” To which I replied, “I can trump that. I haven’t showered since Thursday.”

That is when you know you have a dear friend in your life. When you can honestly reveal how disgusting you truly are and know that the other person will simply nod their head in admiration without the slightest bit of judgment.

I had to reschedule my post-marathon massage due to the crazy pukefest that took over my home after my race. The reschedule is today. In about an hour. And I can not wait. I may not really need it anymore as a post-marathon treatment, but I sure need it as a method to keep me from losing my mind - which is just as important.

I’ve never really had one of these days before. I’ve gotten a few pedicures for special occasions, and few facials in the last few years. And I’ve had one massage on Valentines day about two years ago. But today? I’m doing all three. It almost feels like I should be ashamed of this because it seems silly now that I’m fully recovered from my marathon (except for some severely bruised toes). But I scheduled it as a reward for completing the marathon, and even if I’m no longer hurting for that, it doesn’t mean I deserve the reward any less, right?

Hopefully I’ll report back with pretty toes and relaxed muscles.

The family reunion yesterday was fun, but all too short. We were only able to stay long enough to chat awhile, overdose on brownies, and kick some croquet ass. I was the croquet tournament’s official sports photographer - so I didn’t play. Since I had never even held a croquet mallet before, much less seen a course, this was a good move on my part. In reality, no one really knew what they were doing and everyone was just out to have fun. Except my Dad - he was out to see how many times he could hit my other cousins off the course. Which was hysterical. Did it help his game to him them out of the way? Who cares! Hit them anyway!

MrZ and NikkiZ played their own version of croquet off to the side. Their version involved a lot of bonking of baby heads with croquet mallets. It seemed like everytime I tried to snap a picture of NikkiZ with the mallet, she would hit herself in the head. She gets that natural talent from me.

The party last night was fun as well. I just wore a skirt and top from my closet. I didn’t feel as good as I would have in something new, but I felt fine. It’s funny - my husband is quite the studly charmer in situations like that. If you knew us alone, you would guess I’d be the leader at a party like that. But nope - put him in a suit and MrZ becomes quite amazing. He was introducing me to people and talking to everyone who made eye contact with him. He kept having to drag me out of my safe little corner where I was drinking too much wine and trying to be invisible. I was very proud of him and I’m happy at least one of us knows how to function like a grownup.

At one point in time he said, “Oh! Look who is here! I want you to meet him.” I was all, “Who is that?” To which my husband replied, “THAT would be our family doctor you’ve never seen.” Heh. So, when I joke I don’t really ever go to the doctor? I’m not exaggerating. I don’t go unless I’m too sick to wait for an appointment and have to go to the walk-in clinic. So, I met my family doctor last night!

It was a gorgeous party in a historic home in downtown Huntsville. It was a great crowd of interesting people. One of these days, I’ll be more comfortable in those situations. Until then, I’ll just hold onto my husband’s arm and try to hide in the shadows.