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Steven and I have been having fun with our bowling league. We don’t really have a chance of scoring first place in the league, because we missed the first three games, and all of those points were counted as losses. But we still have fun, meeting with different bowlers each week, cheering them on, making jokes, and watching their bowling styles. And we do win games - just not enough to make a “comeback.”

So far, everyone we’ve met has been really cool and fun. Until this week. The team we played was crabby and antisocial from the get-go. That’s fine with me, I am not there to screw around or be goofy, and if they don’t want to be friendly… whatever.

But I guess they made a few snide remarks to Steven about why we were winning. And they refused to sign the scoreboard at the end of the night (the captain signs from each team).

Bad sportsmanship is never cute, especially when you’re an adult.

Grow up.

It seems like I have been around kids a lot lately. A few of Steven’s high school and college friends have young children. Our neighbors (that we have become friends with, not our immediate neighbors) have a young daughter. Two of my coworkers brought their kids to the bowling party. Beth brought her two daughters to dinner last night.

HRC with Beth + girls and Kevin

I don’t plan on having children anytime soon, but when I meet all of these cute, sweet and well-behaved kids, I think “Maybe someday!”

Maybe.

Anyway, the things kids want to talk about totally cracks me up. They are always straight-forward and unashamed about what interests them. Wouldn’t it be nice if adults could be like that (sometimes) as well?

Some of the amusing questions kids have asked me lately:

1. What was your favorite grade in school?
2. Is it hard living in Chicago?
3. How many cats do you have? (this one seems to be popular)
4. What’s your cat’s name?
5. Do you have any kids?

I don’t know why I think it’s so cute that they ask questions like that. I just do. (And I just love the stories that Tori tells about her kids. Okay, now I really sound like a freak. Enough of that)

Isn’t it funny trying to explain blogging and blogger-meetups to a non-blogger?

I got into this conversation with my boss tonight, when I told him I was going to meet Beth and Kevin. (He saw I was looking at Beth’s site, then asked what the heck I was looking at (her pictures from an American Girl Store visit), so I went on to tell him this was her blog, and I was meeting her tonight, and blah blah blah.)

He actually sounded interested, and told me to have a good time when I left.

I’m happy he didn’t ask, “Now, why would you want to meet up with people you don’t even know?” I’ve heard that’s a common non-blogger response.

Why does anyone meet up with people they don’t know? To try to create new friendships? That is always my hope. I think it probably worked tonight. We had a great time!

What are you supposed to say to a friend when they tell you they are in so much physical pain they understood why some people end their lives?

My friend Rixa (a 71-year old German woman who lives in Italy) called me this weekend. I met her when I lived in Rome, and I still write to her twice a month, and she calls me every 3 or 4 months.

During this call, she told me about a slew of bad things that happened to her last year that I didn’t even know about. She got hit by a car. Burglars broke into her home while she was there. Then she was in so much pain all the time, and couldn’t walk well or go to the bathroom, that she thought about ending her life, but wondered who would take care of her cats (please, no crazy cat lady jokes).

She had an operation near the end of June that she just now came home from, and has to rest for three weeks. She said she already feels better, which she can’t believe - she was in so much pain she thought it would never end.

She’s a very serious woman. It actually took me awhile to find out what made her smile (and laugh!) but after that, we became very close. It makes me feel awful to know she was in so much pain, and I didn’t even know about it. But what could I have done? She is not the type to want help from anyone else.

She was happy to be receiving my letters at least.

I still have nothing nice to say.

I skipped blogging for a whole week, because every thought entering my head that I deemed “blog-worthy” could also have been labeled “negative,” “whiny,” or “bitter.”

Ugh. I’ve just been feeling so on edge, like I have all this built up tension… over what? I don’t know what.

I really looked forward to the three-day weekend, and the mini-vacation with my family. And I had a great time, but don’t feel relaxed like I thought I would. I still feel jumpy. And anxious. And even… hostile?

This is really something I want to get away from. I just don’t know how.

I love seeing the inside of someone else’s house for the first time. I like to see what color their walls are painted, if they have any artwork or plants, what their furniture is like, if they have a library… how organized their house is, and so on…

Is this an “architect-thing” or a human curiosity thing? Do you notice anything in particular when you visit someone else’s house for the first time?

I am totally stealing this from Miss Attitude.

The website howmanyofme.com will tell you how many people in the U.S. have the same name as you.

More than 767,267 in the U.S. are named Kimberly. But I’m the only Kimberly Ilax.

One time I told Steven I didn’t want to change my last name because there was already a Kimberly with his last name. And I wanted to be unique. Yeah, yeah, yeah - I’m whiny.

But that website is estimating there are only 2 Kimberlys with his last name anyway. So maybe I should just shut up and change it already. Really. I just need to go to the Social Security office. I think. Any advice from anyone who HAS changed their last name?

Anyway, how many people share your name?

(By the way, I’m not sure how legit the site is… but it’s fun to look!)

I’ve been tagged by Diane to do the “6 things that are totally normal about me” meme (I’ll let you be the final judge of whether or not I’m really normal!):

1. I don’t know any of my immediate neighbors.
2. I’m overweight.
3. I sing along to the music when I am driving the car.
4. I love jewelry.
5. I like to take long, hot bubble baths.
6. I don’t follow the “wash instructions” on my clothing.

What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

This hot weather’s got me thinking about a cold scoop (or two) of ice cream.

I love Blue Bunny’s “Birthday Party” flavored ice cream. It’s so sweet and creamy… and perfect. It feels like each bite touches all of your taste buds, as if fills your mouth with savory flavors. It reminds me a lot of Cold Stone Creamery’s “Cake Batter” flavored ice cream. Steven said it tastes “just like white birthday cake.”

My sister discovered the flavor one time when she and my family came to visit me in college. After they left, I remember  scooping myself a HUGE bowl of the ice cream. I probably finished the carton that night. Steven asked why we never buy it out here - that’s probably why - NO self-control!

I tried to come up with something interesting to say… then use that as a segue into the score sheets below, but I failed… (so please check them out anyway)

Maybe posting a picture of this hilarious shirt will at least make you laugh.

I wish I could order one to arrive by Saturday for our “mini” company bowling party.