Doing Things Differently™ – My Week In Review [Part Six]

[Week Six: March 6th – 12th]

* For those of you who are NEW to ‘Doing Things Differently™’ or NEW to reading this blog, may I suggest you click on, and read, the links provided in the first paragraph of this post? I think that might clear up any confusion!*

Once Upon A Time, A Girl Named Meleah wanted to improve the ‘Quality Of Her Life’ so, she started ‘Doing Things Differently™’. And then she noticed the ‘Little Changes’ she made every day, had a huge impact on her life. And even though Meleah had a few ‘Setbacks’, she kept on forging ‘Ahead’. After completing the first four weeks of ‘Doing Things Differently™’ Meleah stepped up her game and took ‘Doing Things Differently™’ to the ‘Next Level.’

Onward.

As Meleah previously mentioned, her girlfriend Sarah Sunshine came to visit Meleah in New Jersey all the way from California. As such, Meleah must admit that she did not exactly ‘Maintain’ her ‘New Morning Routine.’ Meleah was starting to feel badly about ‘Skipping’ a few days of ‘Doing Things Differently’, but then a ‘Fellow Blogger’ pointed out to Meleah:

“Since you are seeing your friend, whom you haven’t seen in 19 years and are thus screaming like 15 year old girls, you are of course ‘Doing Things Differently’ even though they aren’t the same DTD that you were doing before she arrived, they are DTD from before she arrived – and from before you started DTD.”

Exactly Jen. Exactly.

And that’s when Meleah realized she was in fact STILL ‘Doing Things Differently’ she was just ‘Doing Things Differently’, differently. And here’s how that worked out…

Sarah and her son Mason arrived in New Jersey Friday evening and from the moment she stepped off the plane Meleah and Sarah commenced: screaming with joy, crying tears of happiness, and non-stop talking to each other a hundred miles a minute. It was as if they had never been apart, and they picked up right where they left off.

Of course, the first place Meleah decided to bring Sarah was the ever-so-famous KHCC. Because you just can’t come to New Jersey to visit Meleah without meeting ‘Amy The Bartender.’ They ordered a Pizza, and laughter ensued.

Now, Meleah’s house is already a little on the ‘crowded side’ considering she lives with ‘The Parents’, her son JCH and her grandfather Poppa Sye. So figuring out how to make room for ‘Two More People’ could have been challenging. However, since Meleah is ‘Doing Things Differently’ she offered up HER OWN bedroom. And anyone who knows Meleah knows what a huge ordeal that really was. Because honestly, if they had been ANY OTHER ‘House Guest?’ Meleah can assure you, she would have made them sleep on the sofa.

Saturday morning Meleah awoke to a ‘Pleasant Surprise’. The SUN was actually shining, the skies were blue, and the temperatures were above freezing. And that’s when Meleah thanked her ‘Sarah Sunshine’ for delivering the ‘Promises’ of ‘Excellent Weather Conditions’.

Meleah and Sarah spent the day together catching up, gossiping, and laughing. They tried several times to get their children to leave the house, all to no avail. Even after attempting to lure them outside with offers of fancy ‘Country Club Lunches’ and ‘Movie Suggestions’, their kids simply refused to leave Justin’s Room. Meleah and Sarah were more than happy to enjoy ‘Grown Up Time Alone’ while Justin basked in the responsibility that is baby-sitting. [Even if it was the easiest job he’s ever had.] Saturday night we all enjoyed a ‘Family Dinner’ together cooked lovingly by Tony Bennett. [Not shown here.]

On Sunday Sarah and Meleah awoke to a rather UNPLEASANT surprise. The sun was still shining and the weather conditions were more than favorable, however, The ABC Network had been pulled from Meleah’s Cable Provider. And, Meleah really wouldn’t have minded all that much, had it NOT been on the day of the ‘Academy Awards’.

Yeah. Um.

Not only were the ‘Oscars’ being hosted by Meleah’s ‘Imaginary Husband’, but Sarah had flown in from California specifically to watch this ‘Glorious Event’ with Meleah. And now they couldn’t view anything on ABC whatsoever.

Meleah and Sarah had no other choice but to try and be resourceful. After three different trips to three different stores, and five different phone calls they managed to locate a ‘Radio Shack’ that still had ‘Digital Antenna’s’ for sale. So Meleah and Sarah traveled across ‘The State Of New Jersey’ which was very much ‘Doing Things Differently’ since Meleah normally does NOT drive outside the ‘Four Square Miles That Surround Her House Otherwise Known As Her Comfort Zone’ UNLESS it’s an ‘Emergency.’ And not being able to watch the ‘Oscars’ definitely ‘Qualified’ as an ‘Absolute Emergency.’

Meleah had to purchase a ‘Digital Antenna’ AND an Analog To Digital Converter Box – because for whatever reasons filled with technical jargon Meleah doesn’t understand – apparently, a ‘Digital Antenna’ will NOT work WITHOUT an ‘Analog To Digital Converter’. And of course that makes ‘Perfect Sense’ considering the ‘Antenna’ only cost around 20 dollars, but the ‘Converter’ costs well over 80 dollars. And that’s when Meleah temporarily missed the days of being able to use ‘Rabbit Ears’ to receive any and all ‘Network Television’ Channels for free.

When they arrived home, Meleah assumed the role of ‘Electrician’ as she carefully followed all of the instructions and desperately tried to receive a television signal. Sadly, after two hours, a lot of cursing, and series of anxiety attacks, it was obvious there was no way in hell they would be able to watch the ‘Oscars’.

Feeling defeated, Meleah and Sarah drove back to the store to return the ‘Useless And Expensive Items’ when it occurred to them to at least TRY and find a way to watch the ‘Monologue’ of the ‘Oscars’ even if that meant they had to beg the ‘Management’ at ‘KHCC’ to stay open past 8:30 on a Sunday merely because KHCC has the DISH Satellite as opposed to Cable TV. [And that concludes ‘The Longest Sentence Ever’.]

After another glorious Family Dinner, Meleah and Sarah hightailed it to the ‘Country Club’ and proceeded to bribe the ‘Nick The Bartender’ into putting on ABC and turning the volume on the television all the way up. Meleah and Sarah settled in at the bar happily seated next to ‘Nightingale’. Meleah and Sarah were fully prepared to spend money they didn’t have – just to keep the bar open as long as possible.

Fortunately for them, about twenty minutes later an actual ‘Miracle’ happened. ‘The Powers That Be’ at both ‘The ABC Network’ and ‘Cablevision’ finally reached some sort of an agreement. And Meleah found out that out – when she heard ‘Jovial Shouting’ coming from Sarah – who was all the way across the building, and in the ladies room, with the sound proof metal door closed. Sarah may or may nor have lost her voice while announcing to the world, “OMG OMG OMG – Channel Seven IS BACK ON REGULAR TV!”

Needless to say, Meleah and Sarah paid the bill, ran out the door at the next commercial, and raced home like there was no tomorrow. Meleah fishtailed into the parking lot and, ‘Ace Ventura-ed’ herself into a space. Like A Glove.

Meleah and Sarah spent the ‘Rest Of The Night’ curled up on the couch watching the ‘Academy Awards’, critiquing the celebrity wardrobes, and crying over speeches, with ‘The Parents’. Just like they wanted to.

Monday, also known as ‘The Last Full Day Of Sarah’s Visit’ Meleah decided to take them on a ‘Tour’ of New Jersey. And by ‘Tour’ she really means they picked up JCH from school, went to ‘Barnes and Nobel’ bookstore, stopped at ‘Dunkin Donuts’ and went ‘Grocery Shopping’. And it was at that point in time when Meleah realized just how boring her ‘Regular Life’ actually is.

Later that evening Meleah made her famous ‘Pork Chops’ and ‘Mashed Potatoes’ for dinner. Because Sarah and Mason just couldn’t leave the state without eating at least one of Meleah’s home-cooked meals. Besides, Meleah wanted to show her appreciation for ‘The Best House Guests’ anyone could ever ask for.

Tuesday, Meleah and Sarah did not get up as early as planned. Unfortunately they didn’t have enough time to do anything other than grab a quick bite for lunch before heading back to the Airport. Meleah and Sarah survived the drive on the dreaded New Jersey Turnpike while they FINALLY listened to ‘Unacceptable Music’ together – for the first time in 24 years. And then regrettably, they had to say their goodbye’s curbside.

Meleah felt a ‘little sad’ after taking her girlfriend Sarah back to the airport. And by a ‘little sad’, she really means she cried the whole way home. It’s funny how you can form such an unbreakable bond with certain people and no amount of time, or distance, can ever alter that relationship.

Surprisingly, Meleah woke up at 8am the next day, and that’s precisely when Wednesday ‘Technically And Officially’ became ‘Day Thirty’ of ‘Doing Things Differently’ or [D30/DTD]. Meleah put on her ‘Outfit’ and went ‘Outside’ and walked around the block, five times in a row, for the first day, for the sixth week in a row. And when she came home, rather than smoking a cigarette, she did 50 ‘Stomach Crunches’ and 10 ‘Push Ups’ for the first day, for the second week in a row.

And she felt fantastic. Meleah didn’t realize just how much she had become accustomed to her ‘New Morning Routine’ and she welcomed the rest of the day filled with ‘Gusto’.

Thursday otherwise known as ‘Day Thirty-One’ of ‘Doing Things Differently’ or [D31/DTD] began at 10 am. Apparently, Meleah was really tired after sleeping on the sofa for four days in a row. Meleah put on her ‘Outfit’ and went ‘Outside’ and walked around the block, five times in a row, for the second day in a row, for the sixth week in a row. And this time her mother joined her. It wasn’t as sunny as it had been during Sarah’s visit, but at least the temperatures were still on the warmer side. And when she came home, rather than smoking a cigarette, she did 50 ‘Stomach Crunches’ and 10 ‘Push Ups’ for the second day in a row, for the second week in a row.

‘Day Thirty-Two’ of ‘Doing Things Differently’ or [D32/DTD] otherwise known as Friday, started at 1030am. And as long as Meleah gets out of bed prior to noon, it’s still considered a ‘Triumph.’ Meleah put on her ‘Outfit’ and went ‘Outside’ and walked around the block, five times in a row, for the third day in a row, for the sixth week in a row. And holy crap it was cold, windy, rainy and raw outside. Meleah wondered why Sarah ‘Took Back’ all of that ‘Nice Weather’ when she left New Jersey.

When Meleah came home, after she thawed out, she did 50 ‘Stomach Crunches’ and 10 ‘Push Ups’ for the third day in a row, for the second week in a row. And then she went to KHCC to celebrate the completion of Week Six with ATB.

And then the power went out in her neighborhood.

And all hell broke loose.

For THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

But that’s another blog post you’ll get to read on Wednesday!