Upside Downside

October!!!

Upside: It's October!!! The kickoff of fall and the holiday season, pumpkins galore, cozy fall days, and Halloween. I'm a sucker for all holidays!

Downside: It's October... The 1st was a rainy day (which I spent outside for work at the local homecoming parade.) The 2nd was a rainy day. And the 3rd is looking equally rainy. I actually love rainy days. I love them even more when I get to stay in bed, or snuggle on the couch, wrapped up in a cozy blanket with a hot mug of tea, a good book or a great movie. Unfortunately, this sudden change in weather has led to a drop in barometric pressure and an increase in sinus pain. If you've never experienced this phenomena consider yourself one lucky duck! Me? With my father's superior genes... I'll be picking up some decongestant at work today.


My Best Friend's Boyfriend!!!

Upside: He's a really nice guy and I'm glad their happy together.

Downside: I'd rather that they were happy far, far away from me. When it comes to relationships, my best friend and I are both very monogamous and devoted to our boyfriends. She just takes it to another level. This weekend she told me she couldn't talk to me on the phone, because she had to hurry up and get to boyfriend's house because, after all, "he was waiting for her." Um. You've seen him every weekend since July minus one. And you've seen me significantly less than that. Best friends of 13 years remember? But wait folks... it gets better. He is always there. When we discuss plans she always includes him. (It's still fairly new, this is just a phase. Right?...) And they love PDA more than any couple I've ever met... We were all at boyfriend's house this weekend watching TV. It was cute, he made us hot chocolate. He offered to let me pick the TV show (though I declined instead of attempting to figure out how to work his remote.) They started off simply holding hands. The next thing, I look over and boyfriend has his arm wrapped around her. (I can't find a picture to portray what I mean, but I do not mean he simply had it wrapped around her shoulder.) Sure, that's cool. Don't mind me. I'll just slowly try to sink into the opposite end of the couch.

Yes, I have tried to think through my feelings? Am I just jealous? Nope, not it. Do I envy her happiness? Nope, I'm happy she's happy. Have I ever displayed an excessive amount of PDA that deserves pay-back? Possible I suppose, but doubtful. And I'm pretty sure my last possibility of PDA was long enough ago that she would have forgotten. Do I get annoyed by PDA easily? Evidently... I can generally tolerate holding hands, even strolling arm and arm. Just don't make me contemplate using the jaws of life to pry you apart when we are sitting on the couch together. Is that really too much to ask?

I was trying to think if I knew any other couples that love PDA. Perhaps I just have an especially conservative circle of friends, but quite frankly the only other "PDA happy" couples I know got married - and then divorced. At Bible Study last night, I was thinking about the married couple who hosts and opens their home to us. It made me think about "PDA": what it is concerned in our culture, what we stereotypically think of when we hear the term, what smaller gestures should really be considered PDA. [another segue for a future post!]


Half-Marathon!!!

Upside: Only five more weeks! I can only keep on doing what I've been doing and hope for the best!

Downside: Only five more weeks! No miracles at this point...


What are the upsides and downsides in your life? How do you stay focused on the upsides?