Suck It, Gold's Gym

I just reviewed my contract, which is up next month. One more payment! Woohoo. And it's a good thing that I looked at my contract because it's kind of shady. After my contract expiration date is up on Halloween, my long term contract is transferred to a month to month contract. However, should I no longer desire to do business with Gold's after my original contract is up, I have to give no less than 30 days written notice prior to the expiration date either hand delivered or sent in via registered certified mail. I wonder how many people don't actually review their contracts, try to cancel without giving proper notice, and end up having an extra payment squeezed out of them before they do realize the appropriate hurdles to jump. Ah, business. Even the crappy gym with its broken, oozy sweaty equipment makes you give notice before it stops taking your money.

Today was good in many ways and sad in another. For me personally in my endeavors, I had a good day. However, I was definitely saddened by the loss of a high school classmate to cancer. Y'all know I hate death and wish we could all live forever, but for someone so young who had been battling so long and never really got to experience the things that others his age had, well it makes your heart hurt. Mine does. It also makes me appreciate my life and those around me more. I feel stuck sometimes being a military wife and not being able to experience things that civilian couples do. It's petty compared to cancer, though, huh?

And so I'm going to (gulp) try to complain less. This course of action was echoed in a conversation I had tonight with Mama Lowrey. She is a veteran military spouse whose husband only recently retired after somewhere close to thirty years, and he's still working, only now on the civilian side of things. It was great to talk to her and ask questions and find that someone else has had these ups and downs. And, they've worked through them and come out on the other side with a lasting partnership that grew together. Joe and I are slowly working through a few things. I think it's a marital growing pain, but we're both ready to work through it. Obviously, if we were about to get a divorce, I probably wouldn't blog about it. Or would I? ;-) Bottom line: We will be alright, and I'm thankful there are people who love and care for us enough to share their experiences and give guidance. Thank you Mama L.

On that marital note, Joey will return from Florida tomorrow. Poor guy got tased today. He said five seconds worth of pain seemed to last a lifetime, which was followed by having the taser prongs pulled out of his flesh. Unlike the pepper spray, though, when it was over, it was over. No residual effects. Or at least he doesn't realize any yet. I kind of imagine him like Batty from Fern Gully. Maybe when he gets home he'll start twitching as he short circuits into the Batty rap: "Toys in the attic, potatoes in a jacket...I rock and I ramble, my brain is scrambled..." But maybe not. Either way, I'm excited to see him. :-)