One of the nice things about having a few days off is that I get to catch up on TV shows and play around on my computer. I've become obsessed with my iTunes Top 25 Most Played list. Here it is:


1) Be Without You (Kendu Mix)- Mary J. Blige
2) SOS - Rihanna
3) We Belong Together - Mariah Carey
4) Black Horse and the Cherry Tree (Radio Version)- KT Tunstall
5) Ain't Nothing 'Bout You - Brooks and Dunn
6) A Little Too Late - Delta Goodrem
7) Watch Me Shine - Joanna Pacitti
8) I Want You - Faith Hill
9) Hips Don't Lie (Feat. Wyclef Jean) - Shakira
10) Sway - Michael Buble
11) I'm Like A Bird - Nelly Furtado
12) Yeah! - Usher
13) Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
14) Breathe - Anna Nalick
15) The Real Thing - Bo Bice
16) Cry Me A River - Justin Timberlake
17) You And Me - Lifehouse
18) Starry Eyed Surprise - Paul Oakenfold
19) Be - Jessica Simpson
20) Hear Me - Kelly Clarkson
21) Shame On Me - Ryan Cabrera
22) Memphis, Tennessee - Elvis
23) Graceland - Paul Simon
24) Fumbling Towards Ecstacy - Sarah McLachlan
25) For The Girl Who Has Everything - NSYNC

I was kind of surprised the NSYNC song made it to the list. "Sway" and "I'm Like A Bird" are songs we use at the dance studio all the time. I always get them stuck in my head. I actually played the Mary J. Blige song 44 times! I like it though...reminds me of me and Josh.

Speaking of Josh, I should finish getting ready for my surprise. I have no idea where we're going or what we're doing. All I know is that I'm supposed to get dressed up. Can't wait to find out what's in store!

I slept in this morning. It was so nice to do nothing - just stay in bed and relax. Aunt Lu and I went out and had a leisurely lunch. Now this is what summer is supposed to be!

I have to work at the dance studio tonight but it's nice to get a few days away from the club. I love my job there but everyone needs a break from time to time. I am going to enjoy every minute of this long weekend. I'm still wondering about tomorrow night. I wonder what Josh has up his sleeve. He won't tell me where we're going or what we're doing. Very mysterious.

Molly got voted out of the dance competition last night. I think she's a little relieved. I think it was nerve-wracking for her.

That's all for now. Back to relaxing!

Work is so busy. Paula doesn't drop by any of the camps to see how things are going so every morning I have to make the rounds. Nancy is supposed to be helping me but she's too busy filing her nails and following Josh around the pool during swimming lessons. The good news is that Henry is starting to take notice and he's not happy with what he sees. I wouldn't want to see Paula go but I'd love for Nancy to get tossed out on her you-know-what.

I've worked non-stop for the past nine days. I have off Thursday through Sunday to make up for it. I'm looking forward to a long weekend. Josh told me this morning to plan on an evening out on Friday. He didn't give me details...just told me to get real dressed up and be ready to go by 6:30. I'm going crazy trying to figure out where we're going. Heck, I'd just like to know what the occasion is! But he won't tell me.

I have to get going. Quick dinner and then off to the dance studio!

I told Jen that I can't do the dance numbers in "Evita." I feel bad about it but, as Aunt Lu would say, I'm burning the candle at both ends. I'm just too tired and too busy. I've been doing so much this summer that I haven't had any time for relaxing. It's work, dance studio, work, dance studio, trying to fit some time in for friends, trying to fit some time in for Josh. And he's equally as busy so it's hectic. Tonight I'm going to the restaurant where he plays piano just so that I can see him. You'd think that by living next door and working at the same place we'd have time to spend together but it's been so crazy lately and I miss him.

And then there's Molly who has been acting wierder and wierder. I know it was hard on her when Tim went back to Australia but now that it's getting closer to school starting she's even more weird. She keeps asking me questions about our living situation at school. I don't know what she's getting at. We have a quad: Molly, Natalie, me and another girl (TBA). I think Molly is afraid I might pick Natalie over her or start ignoring her or something weird. I hope this living situation doesn't turn into a nightmare!

Anyway, gotta run. A few things to do before going out...and then it all starts over again tomorrow!

Well the storm finally came last night. It finally took the edge off things. Today the weather is bright and sunny but not so oppressive.

It's funny when life all starts to line up. Last night was the storm, and last night Josh and I got into another fight about Nancy. She weaseled her way into our movie night. Josh invited some of the people at the swim club to join us and Nancy managed to come along. It wouldn't have been so bad except that she sat on the other side of him and leaned in towards him the whole time. After the movie I told him that I don't want her around. He said I was being overly sensitive and dramatic.

We must have sat in the car for over an hour arguing about it and then we both realized that we were each being overly dramatic. We finally talked things through rationally and for the first time I think he really understood why I dislike Nancy so much. After our conversation things felt so much better. It was like we finally broke through any tension that Nancy had caused. Today things felt better, like Nancy couldn't hurt me anymore. So the storm has past and all is calm now.

My two favorite words for the day: Air Conditioning. This weather is oppressive. It's worse than Florida. At least down there we have the late afternoon thunderstorm to break things up a little.

Last night Josh and I closed the swim club. It was so hot when we finished up right before 10:00 that we got in the pool for a quick swim. It's unbelievable crazy how hot it was.

It was late by the time I got home last night and then I was up early this morning for work. The kids were all grumpy from the heat so most of the counselors let them play in the pool all morning which meant that half of the lifeguards had to guard the pool instead of helping with swimming lessons. It was a mess. I have such headache now. I was so happy to walk into a cool house. Josh mentioned going to the movies tonight. There isn't anything I really want to see but the idea of a cold theater sounds heavenly.

I don't know why I'm writing about this but I thought it was weird. We were talking about our first crushes at Alex's party the other night and I told the gang that my first crush was on Potsie from "Happy Days." There was an episode where he sang "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" to Joanie and she had a crush on him. Well, I had a crush on him too. I haven't seen the episode since I was a little kid but it stuck with me. Well, Josh and I were looking for something to watch on TV last night and his TiVo just happened to record that episode as a TiVo Suggestion! He said it's never recorded "Happy Days" before! Isn't that weird? It's like you put something out there and it comes back to you. Very ironic.

I just added another major event to my already busy schedule. Jen convinced me to be a background dancer in her production of Evita. They need some people for a few dance numbers. I explained to her that I've never been trained in the Argentine Tango. She didn't seem to care. She told me that they need people who catch on quickly and that no one is a professional dancer. She tried to talk Josh into it too but between work, his summer class and his piano playing gigs (plus he's teaching a piano lesson!) he's too busy. Not to mention that I'd like to see him every now and then.

Last night was the last party at Alex's house. I'm going to miss that place. They have the best house for parties, but soon his parent's will be in Hawaii. He's going with them for the last few weeks of summer and then he'll be away at school. It's so sad. I can't believe the gang is splitting up. Some of us have gone away to school already but everyone always returned to Pennsylvania. Now Alex's home will be Hawaii. It's so far away...

I just feel a little overwhelmed. Summer is passing so quickly and I'm struck by the reality that I'm not going to be living here much longer. I'm not going to see Aunt Lu everyday, friends are moving on to new places, and I'm about to start a whole new chapter in my life. Just when I got comfortable here...it's time for things to change again.

It's been a busy few days. Last week we had our Fourth of July Country Fair. I have to give Paula credit, it was a pretty good event.

I sang my song "Jolene." It's about this woman names Jolene who is trying to steal the man of the woman singing. It's a Dolly Parton song but Josh found a more funky version of it that Olivia Newton-John did so I sang it in her style. After my song was over Nancy walked up to me and said in her usually snarky tone, "was that song for me? did you think I'm going to steal your man?" I just laughed at her. Can you believe the nerve of that girl?

Paula sang "Sunshine and Summertime" by Faith Hill. Randy Jackson would have called it a little pitchy, but awright. Jennifer sang "Independence Day" and Randy would have had the dawg pound barking for her. She hit it out of the park. Josh dedicated a song to me called "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You." It's by Brooks and Dunn. I downloaded it from iTunes. It's my new favorite song! :-)

The rest of the week I spent getting ready for tomorrow night. It's the opening night of our local version of "Dancing With The Stars." Last Thursday we met with the contestants to teach them the Rhumba - our first dance of the competition. The way it works is every Thursday night the contestants will learn the dance for the following week, along with anyone in the community who wants to take a dance lesson for that night. It's a quick intro to the basic step and a few turns. Then the contestants spend the week dancing with one of our instructors to learn a performance piece. On Wednesday nights they will perform the dance for an audience. Three judges will score + audience voting to determine who stays and who goes. We had quite a few people turn out to learn the Rhumba last week so I'm optimistic that they will show up for the performance night.

A few friends are in the competition: Molly, Mr. Anderson, and this guy Jeff from church. I'm so glad I'm not a judge!

I'm glad Molly's involved. She needs a distraction now that Tim is back in Australia. I know she's heartbroken over his departure, even though she's putting on a brave face. I hope that learning a few new dance moves will get her mind off of things.