Friday, October 30, 2015

Five on Friday #71

UNO

Fun things to come in November (ok and Halloween):
  • Halloween!  We decided on a couple costume.  Oh yes, WE.  We are that couple (as if you're surprised by that), we know how nauseating we are.  We embrace it.  LOL.
    • Work Halloween Gathering
    • Friends' Halloween Gathering
    • Another Friends' Halloween Gathering
  • An extra hour of sleep (yes, that's worth celebrating)
  • Trapt concert on Nov 3rd
  • Teh MD-AR's visit!
  • Sweet Tea 1/2 Marathon
  • The chili cook-off at the Citadel that I went to last year with Teh SC House Finder and Teh Architect
  • Thanksgiving (no idea what the details are Thanksgiving day, but I am considering a Turkey Trot or the 7am WOD)
  • Trying to ignore Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales


DOS

Sooooo, when does it become acceptable to just not do Christmas presents?  The past few years, my desire to give gifts has gotten less and less (it also helps that my bank account pees a little when I look at it with Christmas gift shopping in mind).  In fact, I don't even want to receive that many gifts either.  I'd rather receive one thoughtful small thing than 5 things I don't really need.  Is this adulting again?  Ughhh.

I think part of my problem is that if I want something, I buy it for myself.  Somethings I wait on, but very rarely.  There is nothing I need either.  In fact, there are a lot of things I NEED to do, like purge my closet or clean my house (ugh again), but I don't see those being applicable Christmas presents.  But I'm accepting these things as gifts if anyone is volunteering.  I don't turn away gift givers.

That said, I didn't even do a Christmas tree last year.  1- There's Meri.  If you live under a rock and aren't aware, Meri is part goat.  She'd eat everything on the tree.  Some of my decorations are from when I was a kid.  I don't want to have to release her into the wild, she was so expensive and she's so cute so often.  2- I have no idea where I'd put a tree other than in the dining room, which I guess is kinda cool cause then the lights would be way more ambient than the overhead lights.  Hrmmm maybe I just talked myself into a Christmas tree?  3- It costs dollars to either buy a fake tree or a real tree.  4- I'm not sure how extreme Teh German is on the scale of "OMG YAY CHRISTMAS EXPLOSION ALL OVER THE HOUSE" to "Eh, take it or leave it."  Also, it is Teh German's first Christmas away from his family for the holidays... so no pressure, Megan.  #mustplanALLTHETHINGS

TRES

every.single.time.


After reading a FB comment where the person used ZERO capitalization and ZERO punctuation, I almost lost my freakin' mind.. But mostly because she was bitching about how shitty YOUTHS were these days and how they have zero respect for anyone.  Well, she has zero respect for grammar and I hope her family doesn't know how to use commas.

Stop airing your dirty laundry on FB.  We get that you want to rant, but seriously, inappropriate, kthx?

Oh Pun Husky, you make my day.

QUATRO

This article about trigger warnings and over-sensitivity to things that make us uncomfortable definitely made me think.

I fucking say what I want.

#Blimpgate became a thing and I'm so glad that people can have a sense of humor, but I'm sure that no one who was possibly responsible for tethering a $2.7 billion blimp thought it was funny at all.  I'm also sure that aviation commands in the NE were PUMPED (pun intended) about having an awesome mission.

Brianne posted this article about passionate women and I'm proud to say I identify with so many of those traits now, where I wouldn't have at the beginning of 2015.

Apparently, in some countries, feminine hygiene products are under scrutiny for being taxed as a luxury item.  Switching to the cup eliminates this problem and waste build up (because if you recycle used feminine hygiene products.. I just have nothing to say to that), just saying.

CINCO

10 things that made me happy this week:
  1. This one isn't going to be a surprise: THE LEAVES AND THE MOUNTAINS AND LAST WEEKEND!!
  2. My new Ninja blender and it's awesomeness where I press a button and it just DOES MAGIC.
  3. The ability to go out and get lunch and work from home.
    1. Caveat: Specifically from Willie Jewell's
  4. Coworker to me: That is a very dignified photo of you two on your desk.  Me to Coworker: Riiiiiight! (Photo below).  Same Coworker later in the week: You really aren't a morning person are you?  Because normally when I come in the morning I say hello and you just grunt back at me.  Me to Coworker: I say hello!  I just don't enunciate well that early in the morning.  Coworker to Me: You're perfectly fine from like lunch on, but before then, well... you grunt a lot.
  5. We were talking about my being frustrated at Crossfit and then Teh German sent this:
    awwwwwwwwww
    Also, Wonderboy is from Hercules, if you didn't get the reference.
    Yes, that is Teh German's name in my phone.
  6. When people tell me that Teh German and I are a cute couple, even if it looks like they are trying to decide to heckle or compliment us on how cheesy we are (ya know, if it's in person).
  7. Delicious smoothies that I didn't follow a recipe for, for breakfast.
  8. Spontaneous late night motorcycle rides that include my favorite bridge and making a full circle through/around Charleston.
  9. Spending a total of $9.95 on our Halloween costumes after using Amazon rewards points and Target discounts/gift cards.  PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME (oh yes that was a hint).
  10. Realizing how much my life has changed in the last 3 months and what a drastic difference there is between Oct 2014 Megan and Oct 2015 Megan. 



We keep it classy (and dignified).
Seriously this is one of my fave photos of us.



Happy Friday, Gentle Readers.
Linking up with these ladies since it's FFFFRRRRRRIIIIIIDDDDAAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Feminism or Female Pride

Back in the day of Google Reader (RIP, I still hate you for that Googly), I subscribed to Feminste.  They write articles promoting feminism and about culture and women and things that repress women and lots of rape culture articles, which were all too soon for me, which is what ultimately led to me unsubscribing from their feed.

There is a part of me that is ALL THE FEMINIST! ALL THE TIME!  But there's also another part of me that has never wanted to burn my bra (which btw, isn't even a real feminist movement thing), enjoys it when a man holds the door for me or opens my car door, I don't mind cleaning the house (as long as it's not expected of me), I don't really enjoy doing yard work..  But at the same time, I don't enjoy being repressed because I have boobs instead of a penis.  Like that one time when the the property management rep asked me if my boyfriend had tried to remove the stuck toilet seat..

Back story: BTW, I never told you the ending of the toilet seat story from last spring...  So a plumber came to fix the wobbly guest toilet and he was also tasked with changing the toilet seat in the master bath.  Yeah HE couldn't get the screws unscrewed either..  Why?  Because the freakin' screws were too rusted.  EXACTLY what I said was wrong.  He had to SAW off the screws to change the seat.  Yeah, I felt totally vindicated and I played the adult and did NOT call the lady and give her a verbal smack down even if it would have felt VERY good.


Anyways, recently I've come across some articles about women that kinda struck a chord with me (don't judge my Buzzfeed articles, mmkay).

This Is What Happens When Women Actually Accept A Compliment From A Man Online

18 Struggles Of Being A Girl Who Sometimes Actually Likes Herself

I don't suffer from a lack of self-esteem, Teh Mom made sure of that.  I sometimes wonder if I suffer from too MUCH esteem, but I don't worry about it for too long and instead turn to the logical explanation that I'm awesome, no matter what.  Let me just put that out there.

I'm not absolutely hideous, but I'm not the prettiest girl in the land either.  I'm not fat, but I'm the "thickest" woman in my office or the skinniest.  I'm not a nuclear engineer, but I'm a college graduate who is entering into a 2nd career, both of which I was/am successful at.  I don't know all the things ever about dogs, but I know all the things ever about MY dogs. See all the esteem that drips from those comments?  It's practically in a puddle below this paragraph.

All that said, there articles kinda hit home with a lot of blogging topics I've seen on my feed recently from women who suffer from practically hating themselves and that is something very difficult for me to understand because I think I'm pretty awesome.  Part of how awesome I am though, is how I am able to accept different perspectives and experiences and be able to sympathize.

Also, I don't understand what "Can I live?"/#canilive means.  It sounds catty and bitchy to me.  I'd much rather go with the common #sorrynotsorry, because I am almost never sorry for any of this (unless of course I was being an asshole and then well, possibly sorry):

At my worst, I'm a force to be reckoned with.  At my best, I'm a force to be reckoned with but I'm on your side.

I loathe and abhor how hard women are on each other.  We're critical and mean and even I'm not exempt.  One minute I'm poking fun of SUPER obese women and the next, I'm defending the pudgy woman in spandex who is out walking her dog to someone who says she shouldn't be wearing that (at least she not sitting on her butt eating potato chips while she watches TV).

We can do better. 
We SHOULD do better.
I should do better.

There are things that I am uncomfortable wrapping my head around, transgender things for instance.  That said, I don't go out of my way to discriminate these people or meet these people.  If I were to meet someone that is transgender, I would be the only one that is uncomfortable and I'd keep that to myself because that is on me.  Just because I'M uncomfortable with something doesn't mean I need to project that onto someone else.  I feel like people need to be reminded of that.

My problems aren't your problems.  If they are, we have something in common, but you don't need to take any responsibility for my problems.  I need to deal with my own problems like the adult that I am.  That means keeping my opinions to myself if I disagree with someone and no one asks my opinion, or agreeing to disagree if the subject is broached. 

We need to face our problems and not make them the problem of the person/thing we have a problem with.  

Back to my point, I call myself an on-the-fence-Feminist because I fall on both sides of the fence regarding different women's issues.  Maybe that makes me a feminist, maybe not.  I don't need to claim a title to know and support women who are discriminated against.  I just want to be better about supporting my fellow vagina-owners.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Confessions {10/28}

-Sometimes I'm too lazy to scroll to the top of a page, so I click on the address bar and hit enter so it reloads at the top of the page.  #EnergyConservationMatters


-In an coincidental turn of events, I ruined dinner last Wednesday night by failing to turn on the Crockpot (I know, I already told you about this) and we went out for dinner.  The waitress called me/us/everyone honey, darling, and sweetie.  I laughed, despite how much I wanted to stab her in the eye with my fork.  #Notyoursignificantother


-I read on the internet somewhere that switching the language of your computer will help you learn a new language that much faster, so I changed my personal laptop to German.  Yeah, it's good Teh German was sitting beside me when I realized that my right click menus were in German so he could tell me which one was "Save as."  I figured out which one was unpin tab by trial and error.  DuoLingo says I'm 20% fluent, but real life says probably not.  I really should get Teh German to start speaking simple German sentences to me so I pick it up faster.  #newlanguagewoes #Germanishard


-Me every day when I check my bank account waiting on my rent to be taken out, "Am I poor yet?"  #helpmeImpoor


-I edited a snake tongue for over an hour Monday night to photoshop it into a photo of Teh German by a curvy road side because every time we'd see the sign he'd say, "There's the penis head shaped snake!"  Once I realized it just needed an outline, it took me 5 minutes.  #photoshopisnotmyfriend  #justkidding #Ilovephotoshop


-The cafe at work has fruit for free.  This is cool because that means my bananas will come from the cafe instead of the grocery store.  #someoneneedstoeatthem


-I bought a Ninja blender from Woot and used it this morning to make a smoothie.  MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHANGED... and I'm deaf.  This means that I get to get rid of my food processor and blender now.  It's like minimizing, kindaish.  #goodlifechoice


-Teh German does the dishes (my nails thank him) and when I unpacked the Ninja it all needed to be washed and I think he might have died a little on the inside when I apologized for all the stuff that needed to be washed.  Then he cut himself on one of the blades and I felt super bad.  #Ididwarnhim


-Erin used #goatdogs to describe her dogs in her post today and I may have celebrated with fist pumps.  #noshame #bloggerfriends #awesomehashtagwin


-I really, reallllyyy need to make a doctor appt to get some prescriptions refilled.  It just really sucks because I hate navigating anything related to health care.  The navy definitely spoiled me in this regard.  #looksaroundforadult #ohshitIamtheadult


-There is still polish on my toes from when I got my nails done in Sept (by that horrible bitch (nope, not bitter at all)).  Most of it has chipped off but I'm starting to feel like maybe I should just remove it already.  It's so ghetto looking and sometimes makes me reconsider wearing flippy floppies until I realize... IDGAF.  Or maybe Teh MD-AR and I will get our nails did when she gets here (hint, hint)?  #chippedpolishdontcurr


-I've tried not to even THINK about my toe nails because the toe nail on the toe beside my big toe on my left foot (why do individual fingers have names but not individual toes?) is going to fall off very soon and it just freaks me the fuck out.  I mean gives me the heebie jeebies to even think about.  I tried messing with it and I can't bother because it grosses me out so much.  #Imgoingtobedeformed


-I'd really like Teh German to get back to doing Crossfit so I don't feel like I'm neglecting him if I want to do extra workouts....  #ifIdonthurtafteritwasntaworkout #mychiropractordisagrees #WhohaveIbecome


-Teh German and I went to Moe's Crosstown Tavern last night for 1/2 off burgers and for 2 burgers and 1 beer our tab was $12.  Teh German commented that I may have created a monster.  Yaaaassssss!  I lurve Moe's and I'm totally ok with being a cheap date.  #wemakegoodlifechoices #bestteamever


-My Tasty Tuesday gang kinda stood me up yesterday so I decided to take myself to lunch at Willie Jewell's and then work from home for the afternoon.  I have nothing going on at work right now so really this meant that I got to spend the afternoon commenting on ALL THE THINGS and emailing back and forth with Kimmi.  It was glorious.  #whycantIliveclosertomybloggerfriends





-Can I get a hell yeah for an on point GIF game this morning?  #hellyeah








Linking up with:
Life with Lolo
Alanna & Company
Hodges Podge

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Training for Tuesday #5


alyssagoesbang


Upcoming events:


14 November 2015: Sweet Tea Half in Summerville, SC
18-21 February 2016: Glass Slipper Challenge weekend + 5k in Orlando, FL (Disney World)
12 March 2016: Rugged Maniac 5k Obstacle Course in Mount Pleasant, SC
02 April 2016: Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC


October Goals:

-Keep training for my Sweet Tea 1/2.
-Get my pace down.
-Try out Crossfit.
-Don't get hurt.

Accomplishments:

~I only crossed out half of the Sweet Tea 1/2 training goal because I have kinda not but kinda have been training.  I haven't been running as much-ish, but I added cross-training through Crossfit and well, it's working out.  I can tell my lack of running effects my long runs, but there's nothing about me that is capable of running after doing WODs (yet).  Granted, I could run in the AM or make time other than on the weekend, but snuggles in the AM are my priority.  #notsorry

That said, Endurance Club did start, which means I am doing some running work.  The coach threatened something about running barefoot and I'm a good sport, buttttt if it's the week before my 1/2 it's not happening.  I'm not going to break myself before 13.1 miles, even if it's a shitty 13 miles.  I can't do it at all if I'm hurt.  AAANNNDDD The MD-AR is coming down to SC to run it with me.  She might actually disown me if I was hurt and couldn't run it.  Although it would mean that I'd be at the finish line waiting for her.

~Endurance club is going to help me with my pace.  Our first class was last Tuesday and we were definitely running faster than my 9-10m/m.  Prob more like 8:15-8:45.  I could.not.breathe.  It was tough.  I survived.  Moar please.

~I actually started Crossfit the day after the last Training for Tuesday post, but it didn't meet the cutoff, so I got to carry it over.  #win #IdowhatIwawnt


Honestly, I'm enjoying it.  I didn't want to because it's ridiculously expensive.  Additionally, Teh German has been on a Crossfit break because his shoulder which means I've been going solo.  This is good and bad.  Good because I don't feel like I need to impress him (yes I know I'm ridiculous) but bad because it means I'd rather stay home and have a relaxing evening (which are few and far between).  There are days I go home after Crossfit and feel like I could do more workout, but I also know that I'm going to be sore enough the next day without adding miles to the WOD I've already completed.  Finally, Chiro would probably lose his mind if I went back to 10ish miles during the week + Crossfit + weekend runs.  He might actually give up on me and all my broke parts.

~I did kinda hurt my shoulder trying to do a mabillionty (25+15) Burpees, but since then, I've modified my positioning and taken it slow.  This has helped more than anything.  Chiro says I just need to strengthen the muscles.  I say we'll see.  This popping has been going on since bootcamp-ish.  Even when I was doing good push-ups for a few months it was popping and I was ignoring it.  I probably did this to myself.

~I got a wild hair and signed up for a "mud run" with Teh German... and by with Teh German, I mean I found it and signed us up as he'd barely nodded ok because he's been talking about wanting to do an obstacle run since our first date.  It's only the 5k one, which is probably why I signed up.  There's no way I'd do obstacles during a 1/2 marathon.  It's already an obstacle to make sure I pick up my feet enough for 13 miles not to trip over myself.. and sometimes I'm not always successful at that.  Yes, it has a medal.  That may or may not have been most of my motivation.

~Teh German and I went on a Bridge Run with Friend 1 Wife a few weeks ago and it was glorious.  It wasn't a goal for October, but I RAN THE ENTIRE BRIDGE, which is definitely an accomplishment.  #patselfonback


November Goals:

-Get serious about GSC training
-Keep on my Crossfit game, keep adding the weight.
-Roll/stretch more or possibly implement more yoga into my life.
-Avoid gluten products (bread/pasta) to lessen the joint popping/aching problems (yay for self-awareness).  Stuffing is an exception.
-Don't get hurt.
-Try out the trampoline place.  
-Total time of less than 2 hours for my 1/2 marathon. Probably not gonna happen, but it will be a goal until I accomplish it.





Wanna be friends on RunKeeper and stalk each other?  Yes, please.
Linking up with Alyssa and Tracy!


Countdowns make it more real!



Online Countdown


Countdown Clocks


countingdownto.com

Monday, October 26, 2015

Weekend Review {10/26}

Teh German was pointing out this weekend that it's pretty much the end of October and I did a little happy dance.  We're almost out of Charleston summer!  He was in awe that the year has passed so fast and I told him for me only the last 3 months have passed quickly.  That said, I'm really glad my 2015 turned around in the best possible way.  Also, HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!!!!  WOOOTTTT!


FRIDAY


Thank you to all the Gentle Readers who left me comments on Friday's post about what a shitty week it had been and for sharing your property management/rental woes with me.  Misery loves company, lol.

Friday was a short work day, yay.  Additionally, it was chiro day AND Chiro did a cookout on Friday that I was invited to (all the patients were invited actually).  He did burger sliders with caramlized onions on Hawaiian rolls with cheese and OMG delicious.  Also, since my appt was at 1145 and the food wasn't ready, I got an extra long session and got to lay on this table that has some roller thingy in it that massaged my back.  It was good.


After lunch/socializing, I started the epic adventure that was trying to pick up the uhaul trailer.  When I left the chiro office, I called the Uhaul closest to my house and asked if they had the trailer we needed.  After she took ALL my information unnecessarily to tell me that they did NOT have the trailer I was looking for, I turned around to head back to where Teh German had reserved the trailer, or so I thought.  I called the location to ask if I could pick it up early and the guy said that our reservation wasn't through his store but through a different uhaul location on the same street.  Great.  So he gives me directions there and I some how find this ghetto store where the trailer that we need is no where to be seen.  Excellent.

I go inside to talk to someone and a lady tells me the trailer isn't at the store yet because she hasn't picked it up and she asks if I can come back later.  No.  I'm here now, let's do this.  She then comes up with the idea that I will follow her to the off-site location and we can pick up the trailer from there.  Okie dokie.  We essentially pull up to someone's single-wide trailer that has uhaul equipment parked in the yard.  This was in North Charleston, so I wasn't overly surprised, but whatever.  I assume the guy that lives in the trailer came out to make sure that we weren't stealing the trailer and he ended up helping up almost put the trailer on Yurtle until I realized that this trailer was SUPER heavy compared to the one we rented for Labor Day weekend.. and then I realized that the trailer was the wrong size.  We needed the 5x9, this was a 6x12 and Yurtle isn't rated strong enough to pull something that heavy.  She's a compact SUV, not a Ford F-350. 

When I told the lady that trailer wasn't going to work she actually said to me, "Well, can't you just borrow a truck from a friend?"  What?  No!  "I don't have friends/I don't have friends with trucks" is what I almost said.  I left it at no.  She then told me, "I didn't know this wasn't a 5x9, I didn't know there were different sizes."  You can imagine the look I gave her.  Then the 3 of us proceeded to call random Uhaul places in the area asking if anywhere had a 5x9 trailer with a ramp.  The lady managed to find one and switched our reservation to that location.  She told me it was the 2nd location I had called (where they had given me directions).  Ok, I know where that is, NBD. 

Since I had been driving around town, I figured it was a good idea to top Yurtle off with gas, so I stopped for gas and pulled up to a pump that refused to authorize my card.  By this point, I'm frustrated.  I continuously hold down the help button and nothing.  2 cars were able to stop and fill up as I'm impatiently waiting on this pump to authorize.  Nothing.  I get pissed off and drive around to a different pump and try my card again.  This time, it was authorized.  I put the nozzle in Yurtle and start to pump and it clicks off like it's full.  Repeat x10.  I was actually holding the nozzle to try different speeds of pumping the gas and still it kept clicking off.  At this point, I can feel the tears.  I know I'm going to cry.. in public.  I manage to hold back the tears and then resume pumping and it magically works.  I assume there were bubbles or something in the tank kicking off the full sensor.  I don't know, I don't care.  I was seriously about to have a breakdown.  After I got my $6 in gas, I headed to the Uhaul place.

I arrived and I think the lady recognized me from the last time we rented the trailer.  I told her the name for the reservation and she explained that they didn't have my reservation at their location.  I didn't even have a reaction to that.  The guy that I had gotten direction from was also standing there and realized who I was.  They looked up my reservation and told me where it was.  I ensured that it was the correct trailer because I'd been told that there weren't any 5x9 trailers with a ramp available in the area at one point and if I had to drive through Friday early rush hour traffic to the other location to not the correct trailer, my reaction wasn't predicable. 

I dealt with the traffic and finally made it to the final Uhaul place, which also happened to be a Meineke.  Since my tire light had come on Monday morning when it was "cold" (aka below 55 degrees), I figured I'd get my tires pumped up to reset the light so Teh German wouldn't be concerned over it while he was driving.  Once that problem was solved, I backed up to the trailer I knew was going to be ours for the weekend.  I went inside and filled out the paperwork and the guy came out and helped me attach the trailer to Yurtle, which is good because I still haven't had to do that yet.

After getting everything attached, I was on my way to deal with rush hour traffic with a trailer behind me.  Rah.  I made it home without incident and then got to spend 5 minutes trying to back the stupid trailer into the driveway.  Teh German is unbearably good at backing the trailer into places.  I mean, gets it in the spot the first try every.single.time.  Yeah, not me.  I was just glad that I didn't hit Mike or the carport poles.  I'm sure if my neighbors were watching they were highly amused.

All by myself.  TYVM

Throughout the whole headache of dealing with the trailer I had wanted to whine to Teh German, but opted not to so I didn't stress him out anymore than he already was with trying to get out of work "early" at 4.  Once I got inside, I hung out with the dogs and packed the suitcase with my crap.  I brought out our helmets and jackets to Yurtle and tried to get everything I could prepped for leaving other than Teh German's stuff.

When Teh German got home, I had finally laid down trying to just ignore the week and the remote possibility that we still might not get to go to the mountains.  Between Meri and texts, I wasn't able to nap, but did get to rest a few minutes.  When Teh German got home, I asked for 5 minutes of snuggles before we started the process of loading up the bikes and finishing packing.  He really wanted to get everything done, but I started to tell him about the trailer situation and he realized I needed some extra love.  He's the best.

Before I fell asleep, I said we should get going and we did just that.  We were on the road a little after 6, which is what I had estimated.  WE WERE MOUNTAIN BOUND!!  We stopped outside of Columbia for dinner at a place called Rush.  I had almost messaged Teh German before he got off work and asked him to bring me a milkshake from Cookout because the day/week was winning, but I didn't because I wanted him to get home sooner so we could leave.  Rush had milkshakes and they were able to combine the chocolate and the cherry for me so it was almost like an adult shake from Sesame except without the liquor.  It was perfect.  Yes I am dog, yes, I treat myself with food.  #notsorry

After we were fed, I figured was the best time for that potentially too soon conversation about the housing situation.  I almost chickened out, but stuttered my way through the sooo's and I'm not trying to too soon you's and I've been thinking's and asked Teh German about what he thought about buying a house.  He was behind the idea.  We discussed issues like no down payment and loan options and his lack of US credit (I think it's stupid that your credit rating isn't international, FYI).  We also talked about minimum requirements and location preferences.  It was a good conversation and it also included a reassurance that when we think of the future we include each other in those plans and it wasn't a too soon since we've already planned through next June, so we're pretty serious.  I also reiterated that I didn't want him to feel pressured into a commitment with me because I was talking about the commitment of buying a house (PTSD from past relationships much, Megan?). 

We arrived at Teh WJL's house around midnight.  We pretty much said hello then sweet dreams.  We were exhausted from the day.


SATURDAY

Teh German set an alarm for 0730 because he's el diablo.  We got up slowly and prepped for a day of riding.  We unloaded Mike and Suzi and set out for Tennessee in a super dense fog, which was super scary.  We stopped at the grocery store for breakfast options, which were minimal.  Teh German didn't want fast food so he went with granola bars and I picked out an individual oatmeal and a large water.  I needed a spoon so we stopped and ate in the McDonald's parking lot.  By ate I mean I endured uncooked watery oatmeal for as long as possible.  We stopped to get gas at a station with super old pumps and I had show Teh German how to use a gas pump that didn't have a card reader.  He didn't didn't realize how simple it was and I didn't realize how much I take my knowledge of antiquated technology for granted.

When we go back on the bikes after eating, the fog had lifted enough to be safe to drive in.  I actually didn't go far enough to get to the really curvy road I had planned on taking us through.  It worked out though because the road we were on was taking us to the same destination annnnd we'd gotten a late start due to fog and food so it was for the best we didn't take the curvy way.  The entire drive we just kept telling each other how gorgeous the hills were and why couldn't we live in the mountains?  We'd have leaves in the fall and cooler temps and snow in the winter for Teh German's snowboarding/my crazy love and MOUNTAINS!!!   


Teh German is always such a good sport for my selfies.  He's the best.


After we drove into TN for a few minutes, we turned around after we found the road that I meant to take.  We had a hair appt at 1:30, which was good because we needed hair cuts, bad because that was something in the middle of the day that cut into our riding time.  We headed down the mountain the fast way and ended up stopping around noon for lunch at Banner Elk Cafe.  It took longer than I had wanted to be stopped for and traffic was heinus going down the mountain ANDDDD the fog hadn't lifted in Boone so it was tedious getting down the mountain.  We were 30 minutes late for our appt and had to wait another 30 minutes for the girl that was being worked on to be finished.  I think we were tired enough that it didn't really matter to much that weren't riding.  I asked Teh German if he wanted to go ride more or just wait and he said wait. 


After hair cuts, we headed to Teh Dad's to see his new truck/socialize.  We weren't there for very long because we needed to get back to Teh WJL's house before dark since I have no gauge lights and there are no street lights in the sticks and Teh German's headlights were wonky.  We had decided on Friday night that we wanted to drive 181 up the mountain while we were there, so we went the curviest way to 181 from Teh Dad's house and then Teh German took off on 181 while I was all pokey-ass up the mountain.  Which was totally fine with me.  I stopped at a view point and took some photos and the continued up the mountain.  Teh German had looped back to find me and when I passed him he turned around and caught back up with me. 




Once we got back to Teh WJL's house, we showered and headed out to dinner with Teh WJL and her husband for sushi.  I caused a scene when WJL's Husband wouldn't show the server his ID for his beer.  He had said it was in the truck and I suggested he go get it.  He told the server to go ask the cook if he was of age and I repeated that he should go get his ID.  She took his beer order and Teh German's (who showed his ID with zero issues).  Teh WJL asked the server what happened if she served someone that was underage and she explained that she'd have her bartender's license revoked for 6 months (or a year, I can't remember) in addition to a $2000 fine.  I told WJL's Husband that I sure as shit wouldn't serve him anything but soda if he didn't show me his ID with those consequences, I didn't care if he looked 80 years old.  Right before the server left the table he finally pulled out his wallet and show her his ID.  I almost lost my mind.  I said, "You were just too lazy to pull your wallet out?  What the fuck is wrong with you?  It wasn't even that difficult and she's just doing her job." I felt bad later because Teh German had never seen that side of me and Teh WJL probably had to deal with whatever fallout I caused from challenging him for being a completely douchemagoo.

We got our sushi and it was delicious.  After dinner, we headed back to the house and hung out and chatted for a while before I finally called bedtime because we were exhausted.


SUNDAY

Sunday morning, Teh WJL cooked breakfast for us.  I woke up early and told Teh German to sleep in because I was going to go hang out with Teh WJL, he didn't argue.  Teh WJL and I chatted for almost an hour then we woke up the boys for breakfast.  We all had delicious breakfast and then Teh German and I got ready to go on a short ride while Teh WJL got ready for church.  I had opted to head to the Mast General Store in Valley Crucis.  Teh WJL had suggested a curvy road for us instead of going back through Boone to get to Valley Crucis, which was perfect despite the gravel.  Again, Teh German and I just kept repeating to each other how gorgeous the leaves were and he mentioned that we should have gotten a GoPro to attach to a helmet so we could show off how gorgeous it was to our friends/the internet. 


The photos don't do the scene justice.  All the reds and yellows and oranges.  I hadn't been home for fall/leave changing season since well before I left for the Navy so I was just awestruck at how pretty it was.  There's a reason people from FL come up to NC to ride through the Parkway and cause traffic problems (which we got to experience). 

We made it to Mast General Store around 1115 and we picked up some candy and a Cheerwine in a bottle to share.  I learned that Teh German likes black licorice.  He's a weirdo, but I'll love him anyways.  We went by the annex and the original store.  I preferred the original store because the old post office and because there were less people and they actually carried "general store" items like they would have carried in the 1800s.  After we finished at Mast General Store, we headed back to Teh WJL's house to load the bikes and shower and hit the road.  Teh WJL delivered lasagna to us for lunch/dinner because she's the best, then we hit the road.

He was super pumped about the licorice.  Bleh.

I found children's hats and we had to take photos. 
I couldn't figure out why he was making that face then he said, because TEETH! 



The closest to being a 'Bunny' as I'll ever be...

I had never been the way my GPS took us, so I was a bit excited about a new direction.  We stopped right as we entered into SC for gas and took the time to eat the lasagna and go into the grocery store for the bathroom and to grab starbucks since there was one.  That said, try the toasted graham latte or whatever it's called.  The girl working the register said it was less sweet than their normal drinks and she was right.  It wasn't overly sweet, which was perfect.  Since we were going south then east, we got to avoid Charlotte and Columbia for the most part.  As is our road trip tradition, we missed an exit for the interstate we needed and had to turn around, which was NBD.  We did more a few more questions on the way back, but I couldn't really find any that we hadn't already answered.  #firstworldproblems

PS.  I took these photos while Teh German was driving.



We finally made it home at almost 8pm.  I felt a little bad because the dogs had been in their crates for a VERY long time, but they were fine with zero accidents.  I dealt with the dogs while Teh German backed the trailer in so we could unload the bikes (the first time, of course) and he brought in all the stuff from the back.  We got the bikes unloaded and put away and then headed out to return the trailer to Uhaul and stop by Publix so we could pick up items for lunch/dinner for the week.

When we made it home, we put away the groceries and unpacked the suitcase and collapsed onto Teh Cloud. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was an amazing weekend to make up for such a hellish week.  Seriously.  All the leaves and curvy roads and mountains and hanging out with Teh WJL and getting our hairs did.  Every time we ride, Teh German and I discuss listening to music and we even downloaded/edited some Spotify playlists to listen to music and we always end up chatting the entire time instead.  I'm not complaining at all.  It's the best type of chatter and/or silence.

This week is back to the grind to finish out October.  Halloween is Saturday and Daylight Savings is on Sunday, which is PERFECT since we've planned to possibly get into some drunken shenanigans.  That hour extra in bed will be heavenly, not ironic at all because Sunday?  Sunday = church day = heavenly?  That one was stretching it, sorry.

Annnnnnddddd we're at the 2 week mark until Teh MD-AR arrives in SC!!  Which means I should REALLY get in a long run next weekend (prob Sat morning so I don't have to contend with a hangover?)...... half marathons don't train for themselves.

Happy Last Week of October, Gentle Readers!



Linking up with these ladies:
Ashely @ A Cute Angle
Meg @ Life of Meg
Biana @ BLovedBoston

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Sweaty Sunday #15

October 18-24, 2015

SUNDAY

Walked around the Renn Faire eating dust for most of the day.  It was delightful and I didn't even bother to track anything.  I walked, I'm counting it.

MONDAY

Chiro/Rest day.  My hips and thighs were in much better shape after a light weekend per Chiro, so that is good.  After I told him my workout schedule for the rest of he week, he said he'd see me at the end of the week.  He knows me so well.

TUESDAY

Endurance club.  We didn't do a lot, but what we did do was pretty intense.
400m run, 1:1 rest
5 x 200m w/ 1:1 rest between each
Rest same as after first 400m
400m run
We were supposed to run correctly (no heel striking) and fairly fast.  I have no idea what my pace was, but I do know that I was struggling to breathe I was going so fast.  It was way faster than my normal 9:30-10:00m/m pace.  One girl said she was doing 8:15m/m and I was trying to keep up with her, so I'm assuming mine was 8:30m/m.  Wayyyy faster than I probably should have been going.  

I considered doing the WOD after, but Teh German was home, so I opted for snuggles instead.

WEDNESDAY

Crossfit.
400m warmup
Dead lifts 6x6 (scaled up to 65 lbs, which is the most I've lifted)
3 rounds of:
  • 500m row
  • 30 ring press (which I modified and did body lifts between 2 boxes and/or diamond push-ups until my shoulder said no more)
  • 20 toe to bar (which I modified by laying on the floor and lifting my toes overhead to touch the bar (the first set I actually did 30 toe to bars, which made me want to die a little)).
1st round: 8:05 (I wasn't sure how many ring press to do so I had to pause and check the board and I did 10 extra toe to bar)
2nd round: 5:30
3rd round: 6:15

I kinda wanted to die a little, but it was good.. even if I had rubber arms for the rest of the evening.

I'm on the middle rowing machine.  In all my bandanna-ed glory.

THURSDAY

Crossfit
For Time:
20 Ring Rows
800m
12 Clean Jerks
400m Run
12 Clean Jerks
800m
10 Ring Rows
Time: 16:something.

While it didn't LOOK like a hard workout from the start, after that 400m run, I kinda wanted to die a little.  I survived though and I picked up the tempo for the final 800m run.  

FRIDAY

Chiro day!  /sighofrelief 
There was no physical workout, but a mental one that involved driving around Charleston trying to find a trailer while every force in the universe worked against me.  The workout was holding back the sobs when I was epic-ly frustrated.  I'd rather suffer through WODs.

SATURDAY

Rode Mike for most of the day.  My back started to get achy after a while, but we stopped often enough for neither of us to hit that "I'm DONE with this" point.  Rah.



Totals:

I have no idea what meters to miles is.  It's completely obnoxious so I'll probably end up switching my RunKeeper into meters/km so everything is in one metric system, I'm sure that this will give Teh German all the joy. 
2 Crossfit WODs in one week and it was a pretty stressful week, so that's not so bad.  I didn't get my Endurance Club solo road run in, but it's not Tuesday yet...



Friday, October 23, 2015

Five on Friday #70

UNO

Hopefully, this evening, we will be on our way to NC with Mike and Suzi in tow for some riding and leaf viewing.  If not, Teh German and I will be nursing adult beverages somewhere to drink away our pain of plans that didn't workout... and my moderate rage of his inability to say "I've had one day a week off for the last month, sorry I can't make it on Saturday."

I bought cold weather gloves for this.  They need to be tested!


PS.  Things are currently on track to be in NC for the weekend.  As long as nothing last minute comes up, we're golden.


DOS

I went by the property management place yesterday.  It didn't go well.  It's not the maintenance people who are giving me grief but the actual property manager and the owner.  I'm assuming they know each other based on her sassy attitude when she was talking to me about my NOT being able to use the empty shed that takes up half my backyard, especially after everything was stolen out of it.  I explained that it didn't make much sense to me why I wouldn't be able to use it now that it was empty.  If someone had been using it, it would have been obvious that the items were stolen.  But, I'm just the tenant.

It was dealing with the actual PM that set me over the edge, the 2 people that work the maintenance requests had done a good job of calming me down.  The PM pissed me off so bad that I ALMOST said, "Just consider this my move out notice."  I knew better, so I took a minute to collect myself and finally left.

The owner isn't approving all the repairs and the company that is contracted to do the estimates/work are behind from all the flooding.  Or at least that's the reasoning I was given.  I'm over this house, I'm over this company (I was kinda over them before I actually had to start dealing with them, after I'd paid them an exuberant amount of money to even live here, on top of the rent and security deposit).  I actually spent several hours on Wednesday looking into mortgage loans and what it would take to buy a house.  My biggest problem is that I don't have a down-payment and won't have one in the near future.  I know that a VA loan is an option for me and there are some other options.

Nonetheless, it's a big decision and part of me is fine with being a renter until I know where I want to live forever (because I enjoy not having to pay for maintenance issues out of pocket).  But right now, a huge part of me is frustrated over the lack of repairs.  I've not dealt with issues like this between property management/owner/tenants until arriving in Charleston and I'm not planning on going anywhere in the near future, so to keep renting means to keep dealing with this headache, and well.. that's not going to work out.

This also means having a serious conversation with Teh German that starts out something like, "Soooo I want to talk to you about this pretty serious thing and it might be a kinda "too soon" but I really would like to talk about it with you, so please don't think I'm trying to rush or push things in a certain direction.. but about the/my/our housing situation..."  Lucky for me, we have a 5 hour drive to NC to fill with all the fun things.. like serious talks about the future.

Twice in one week, #sorrynotsorry


TRES

Things that happened to me this week to give you a grasp on just how awesome this week has been:
  • Meri shit on the rug at the backdoor last night.  She probably tried to tell me she needed to go out, but I ignored her because she is ALWAYS wanting to go out to bark at anything that passes by Teh Ville (the new name for Casa de Teh Megan)/hunt things in the yard.  #badmom
  • The 20% chance of rain was trying to give me a headache on Wednesday evening AFTER I discovered I hadn't turned on the crockpot (even though I had plugged it in) and Meri had eaten her collar off.  I just couldn't even and almost cried on the way to Crossfit.  #barometerheadwoes #goatdogs
  • I left my laptop at home this morning and was 3 minutes from work when I realized it was still sitting on the dining room table.
  • I discovered that when a recipe calls for a frozen banana, you are supposed to PEEL it before sticking it in the freezer.  It has also been suggested that slicing them up is a good idea as well.  Guess who didn't get to have a breakfast smoothie for the 5 day in a row?
  • After my running workout on Tuesday, my lower back was pinching so badly that I took a flexeril to get to sleep.  I woke up in the middle of the night and popped so loudly I was afraid I would wake Teh German (not possible, he sleeps like the dead).
  • I am unable to do box jumps at Crossfit and everyone else makes them look stupid easy.  Whatever, I can run 13 miles.
  • Teh German didn't get home until after 1030pm on Thursday night and then he asked me to bring him to his car at work.  This was a big deal because not only was I not wearing pants, I was also braless.  Of course, I brought him to his car without much heavy sighing.  I put on pants, but the bra thing was a hard no.  #bestgirlfriendever  
  • On Thursday night the new dog sitter came to meet Meri and Phil.  5 minutes before she was set to arrive, the plumber calls and asks if he can come look at my leaky sink.  I said yes because I knew I didn't want to have to deal with them coming today.  So while I'm trying to meet a new person to watch my dogs, I'm also dealing with the plumber who informs me that the sink isn't leaking AFTER I'd told him that Teh German had taken it apart and "fixed" it the night before.  #mylifeischaos

I swear it's not been all bad, but it's definitely been a rough week.

I also accomplished all the laundry already since we won't be home this weekend and secured a new dog sitter for Meri and Phil.  Because I ruined dinner, Teh German and I went to a place I hadn't been to for dinner (Swig and Swine).  I also went to Crossfit 3x this week.  Teh German's motorcycle stuff came in, but it didn't end up working out.  Finally, I'm going to the chiropractor today and that always makes my days better.  ANNNNDDD I'm gonna see Teh WJL in a few hours!  I mean, that should make up for all the frustrations.


QUATRO

Things on the internet:

I've not really watched anything Amy Schumer has done but I've heard a lot about how awesome she supposedly is.  I need to research this more, but this article about her HBO stand-up definitely sounded like she'd be someone right up my alley.  PS.  She talks about how women actually enjoy sexy time.  /gasp!  THE HORROR!  /rolleyes

Do you Woot?  Cause if not, you should.  Mostly so that way things have a possiblity of selling out before I purchase them.  To include that Ninja food processor/blender I ordered this morning.  In my defense, ordering this means getting rid of my blender AND the food processor.  So minimizing, HA.  PS. That isn't an affiliate link.   I just really like Woot.  I have soooo many Woot shirts.

I'm totally going to start making shakes for breakfast.  Granted, I totally failed this week, but I also learned a valuable lesson about freezing bananas.  That said, I'm going to make THIS recipe first, but only because the avocado I bought is never going to be ripe enough to use.  #firstworldproblems
This will be my 2nd smoothie.

This will make you giggle:


White kids benefit from DEsegregation?  Imagine that....

If snapchat was a thing in the 90s...
 
Do you have a sister?  Does she live far away?  Then this article probably describes your relationship with her.  At least it completely applies to Teh Sister and I, although it didn't include all the texts about poop.

How German sounds to non-German speakers (I sent this to Teh German and he said it was totally true, even if a bit exaggerated):


CINCO

Ten things that made me happy this week:
    1. Easy dinners
    2. Red heels (worn 2 days in a row #notsorry)
    3. Hugs from Teh German when I'm extremely frustrated.
    4. The ability to eat out when I fail at using the Crockpot.
    5. The looks I get (from guys) when I walk into a motorcycle shop in a dress and heels.
    6. Pre-bedtime play sessions with Meri-Meri.
    7. Finding a dog sitter for Meri and Phil who only charges $25 per day.
    8. Some type of delicious fall-themed bread in the kitchen when I arrived at work this morning.
    9. Getting invited to the cookout at my chiropractor's office Thursday evening, even though I hadn't schedule my Friday appointment yet.  Chiro and I really could be BFFs.
    10. Teh German apologizing for being a McGrouchyPants this week, even though he really hasn't been grouchy so much as super stressed out because he was working so hard to ensure that we get to go to NC this weekend.  What this really means is that he's aware that he's not been in the best mood and he cares that it affects me.  #luckiestgirlintheworld




    Happy Friday, Gentle Readers.
    Linking up with these ladies since it's FFFFRRRRRRIIIIIIDDDDAAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!!