The Jill's

All that said (previous post), I had a nice time with people at the academic meetings, and I didn't spend nearly as much time in my room as I was planning to.

I loved spending time with my new friend Jillian from Ohio and learning about her life and her family. I don't always meet a lot of people like me. I have a lot of dear, close friends who I adore. They bring deep meaning in my life, and the fact that they are different from me problem makes the friendships even stronger because we all have things to give and take and all that jazz.

But meeting Jill was really cool and really interesting. We had a lot of things in common: our thoughts, actions, attitudes, education, (same job, of course), parenting style, same illness (she has candida problems, too!). We've both faced infertility, and we scored the same on the true colors personality test. We both would both wanted to get Ph.D.'s but accepted this job instead of going back to school. Were both not sure if we regret it yet. Scared of the same things. Cared more about our families than the academic meetings. Both born with the name "Jill Marie." (I dropped Marie and she added "ian" to make it Jillian since that what people would call her anyway.) We spent a lot of time together. She was a little more laid back than I am, and then we realized this is probably because she is on Zoloft and I just weened. I was louder than her when we got in groups ... but I am louder than everyone when i get in groups .... She worries about a few more details than I do ... because I let Zoloft take that away, and I am never letting it back in. Amen.

We met at work a few days before the meetings, and then we got to talking the very first night because she had taken the trax over to the temple with her co-workers so they could go shopping a the Gateway Mall. I thought they had walked. So, when we got on the phone, and she said they were lost at the Temple (Ironic), I said, "Wow, you got there fast, I'll come meet you and walk you to the mall (3 blocks away.)" She thought I was driving. I walked ... fast ... because i figured if they walked that fast, I better do it too. When she told her group I was coming with my car and they would not all fit, most of them forged ahead accept a women with horrible blisters. (been there, done that.) So when i got there on foot and dripping from my pits, I was of little use. We left the gimp on the side of the road and head to walk BACK to the hotel. It's a long walk, and Jillian and I got to talk the whole time. Loved it. Jillian about died when she realized how far the hotel was and that I had walked there. The girl back on the street by the temple was all pissed that we were talked so long to "go get the car," which she thought was parked around the corner from the temple. Oops. Lots of misunderstandings led to lots of walking and chatting.

The next day Jillian and I headed to the mall to buy bathing suits and found way cute ones for $20 at the Gap. That is a great outing. You never find what you need when you need something specific ASAP. It was cool.

Anyway, I am excited to have a new friend. Party time every 6 months in Salt Lake City! And by party time I mean chat with our feet in the hot tub, of course. What else is there? :)