Five on Friday #204

EINS - Random Shit

I have a confession to make...

I was well into my 20s when I realized that I would not be arrested for removing the tags off blankets and pillows,. as I am the consumer....  For real though, as I kid, I read on a blanket or pillow the part about "Under penalty of law this tag is not to be removed...." and never read the end part because I was afraid I'd get arrested, so I always just left the tags on, despite how annoying they were.

You're welcome for this useless knowledge.

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It's almost 2020 people.  We've had cell phones with cameras in them since 2002 so it's been EIGHTEEN YEARS.. and before that all our mamas and daddys had cameras and/or video cameras or you've at least been in front of a camera at some point in your life (I make some assumptions because it is 2020 and you are reading this on some type of electronic device with an internet connection)... so LOOK AT THE CAMERA LENS PEOPLE!

It makes me irrationally angry to see people looking at themselves in their phone rather than looking at the camera lens.  I often have to do more than one selfie/group shot because the first one everyone is looking all wonky eyed and then I announce, "Look at THIS spot!" and we retake the photo and no one is wonky eyed and it's great because it's a good photo.

Fun fact, after you take a selfie looking into the camera on your phone, you can then pull up said photo and stare at yourself for as long as you like.  Literally, like we used to say, "Take a picture, it lasts longer!"

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Apps for iPhone only or Android only make me irrationally angry.  Like, I get it, they are different platforms, but again, it's 2019.  #EqualOpportunityForAllApps!

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I ordered 3 of my textbooks for the Fall 2019 semester this week.  I have feelings about it.
1- I'm grateful for my most pain in the ass professor who had the books selected and shared with the bookstore over a month in advance.
2- I'm depressed because books for school.
3- I'm confused because the bookstore charges so much money for the same books that other places are offering for significantly cheaper.  Like, sometimes more than $50 cheaper... Uhhh why?

That leaves books for my other 2 classes that I will have to get closer to the start of the semester.  This is annoying because then the demand will be higher and books will be more expensive and potentially not available.

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More in shit that makes me irrationally angry:
Restaurants that I would really like to try out (despite having recently come to the decision that we are going to try to lighten up on how often we go out to eat) only having business hours Monday through Friday from 0600-1400 (2pm).

So I was scrolling through the menu, anticipating the brunch plans that Teh German and I were about to have when I checked out the hours and was completely crushed.  Additionally, this place is in a super inconvenient (for us) location, which means that unless it's a week day we both have off, it's not likely we'll ever get there.  #RUDE

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When I was at DCA waiting for my flight back to CHS, I went to the 5 Guys at my terminal and got a delicious strawberry oreo milkshake.  Since then, I've been craving said milkshake.

Fun fact: Only "participating locations" sell milkshakes.
Another fun fact: None of those "participating locations" are in the Charleston area..
SO FUCK YOU 5 GUYS.

Siiiiiiigh, I'll just go to Cookout and eat my milkshake with a spoon.
Or maybe I'll try and see if Ye Old Fashioned can make something similar that isn't too thick to drink via straw.
#MeganProblems #FirstWorldProblems

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THERE WAS A COLD FRONT THIS WEEK THAT CAME THROUGH CHARLESTON.

It took me by surprise on Wednesday, but I made sure to message the Outside Sitting Coworkers and let them know that when I arrived after class, it was outside time.  Concurrence was given.  That evening, Teh German and I agreed that we'd be riding the bikes on Thursday.

It was fucking GLORIOUS.
I'm not used to not being oppressed by the heat.
Like, I was on Bageera, in the direct sunlight, NOT sweating my non-literal balls off, AND I was SMILING because I was HAPPY.  Me being outside in July, smiling AND feeling joy is an extremely rare occurrence.  Because in addition to hanger, I also suffer from Heatrage.  If that's not a term, it is now.  I just made it up.

Being hot makes me ANGRY.  I mean like.. to an extreme.  I'm uncomfortable and my optimum conditions are NOT being met and this makes me angry.. but the hotter it is, the more uncomfortable I am, and the longer I'm uncomfortable, the angrier I get.  So when I sit outside with anyone at a time when it's over "feels like 90°F?  Those are lucky and potentially unlucky individuals.  It's a high risk situation.

And I know y'all Northerners share those "Why do I live where the air hurts my face?" memes in the winter.. but let me tell you something.. You live there because you do NOT want to live where everything becomes moist by looking outside during the summer.  You do not want to spend 6 months out of the year with wet underwear from just walking to/from your car, inevitably fighting off a yeast producing factory.

I should create a meme that says, "Why do I live where I need gills to breathe?"  Because that's what it's like when it's 98°F and 100% humidity.  When you walk outside and you literally struggle to breathe because the air is so hot and wet (and not in a sexy way, trust me and my swamp ass).  Give me that thin mountain air any day.

Also, to the Northerners who endured that heat wave last week.
Welcome to our EVERY.SINGLE.DAY during the summer.

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On a serious note.  In the realm of mental struggles and brain things.  Maybe this will sound vague, but maybe someone else has the same problem or understands what I'm trying to say and can help me construct my thoughts better.

I suffer from "clear" and "not clear" days.  This has become more and more obvious the longer I'm in school.  It also happened before I started school, but it was less obvious then.

There are the "clear" days that I show up and I rock out everything.  Every question I answer is correct, problems aren't a morale defeating struggle, complicated topics are still understandable.

But "not clear" days are rough.  Nothing the teacher says makes any sense.  None of the topics that I learned on a "clear" day can be waded through without great difficulty or even at all.  All my answers to questions are incorrect.  Often, I can't even follow step-by-step instructions.  These days are generally back-to-back and often cause me to have an extreme spiral into depression over how stupid I am, how I should just give up doing school because I'm no good at computer science.. if you've been here long enough, you've seen the exposé-s on this.

This has become extremely obvious during my chem class when my professor has noticed my "clear"/"not clear" struggle.  I think she thought, at first, that I was just joking around when I told her that I was having a "good" (clear) day or a "bad" (not clear) day.. and this week, she finally got it.  But it was when she said to me during lab on Thursday that she could tell I was having a "clear" day that I realized, this is actually a thing.

Up to this point, I thought it was just a matter of timing and things going on and my being distracted and maybe medications and maybe sometimes the phase of the moon or mercury retrograde..  But I'm starting to think it's something more, but IDK what.

I will admit that there's something to the distraction of taking multiple classes that causes problems and how busy my life is.  It's nice to take one class at a time to be able to focus on a single topic.  But, even with being able to focus on a single topic, I'm still having "not clear" days.  Also, my medications haven't changed in over a year, so I don't think it's the medications I take (which is actually just LoLoestrin for my hot flashes, nexium for the GERD, and a handful of supplements (biotin, multi-vitamin, probiotic) causing the problems (and also I have the IUD for no babies).

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If I hadn't been 100% clear on the fact that I hate summer since April 2011, when I started this blog.. I fucking hate summer.  It's hot, I'm disgruntled, as I get older I'm more disgruntled.  BUTTT Gentle Readers... when July and August roll around and I receive our power bill... I am validated about why I hate summer.

Our power bill was $209 this month (which is from 20 June - 20 July, or something like that, it was a 32 day period, which was weird also).  I'm not sure if it's because the fish tank or the heat or what.. but I actually made the decision to turn the AC up from 73°F to 75/76°F.  We were actually COLD in the house and we were wearing long sleeves and pants and I seized this opportunity to run the AC less.  Teh German didn't have an issue with it. 

Please also know that I'm bitching about this expense in relation to our other power bills.  I know there are people that pay WAY more based on where they live/the size of their dwelling/etc factors.  Also, in the winter I can just set the heat to 67/68°F and then pile on blankets.. I could actually turn the heat down more, but I wasn't willing to make the change last winter, although I did consider it.

BUT FOR REAL.
FUCK SUMMER.

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Teh German and I went to our first date place, Home Team BBQ, on Thursday night to commemorate our 4th dateaversary.  I know, 🤮.  Not sorry.

Here's the real facts.  It's such a rare treat for it NOT to be "feels like 100°F+" during the summer that we were already kinda celebrating by riding the bikes to work in the AM.  I know that Teh German likes getting to spend time on his bike(s), which often means riding out to dinner.. even if it's on a school night.  I enjoyed my ride from school to work sooo much that even I wanted to spend more time with Bagheera.  Also, sometimes I like to do spontaneous things.. like celebrate our dateaversary a week early.  Also, I've been wanting to go to Home Team for a while, but it was a low key desire, so I've put it off for several months for other options, knowing that our dateaversary was coming.

We got "our" parking spot, the same spot we parked on our first date, which always makes going to Home Team feel extra special.  Going out to dinner meant that Teh German got to ride BOTH his bikes in the same day, so he was pretty pumped about the opportunity.  We took the long way home because the Bobber bike is a super rough ride, so Teh German tries to avoid I-26 at all costs.. but ya know, it looks cool.  I guess this is the man version of high heels?  IDK.

When we got home, it was fish tank time for Teh German and study time for me.

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I woke up at 0100 on Wednesday morning in a fucking RAGE about the fact that my windshield wipers didn't traffic correctly anymore.  Like, irrational rage.  AND IT WAS ONE AM. WTF?  I had to literally talk myself down from being so mad... and it's 1am.

Rage: How fucking hard is it to put something back the way you found it?!  You had a simple job to do and at least 3 hours to do it.  Take the 3 fucking hours and DO IT PROPERLY.  Not only did I have to be out of the office to get the damn thing replaced, I had to be out of the office to go back the FIRST time to get the windshield washer fluid working again... and NOW I have to be out of the office, yet again, to get this issue fixed.
Sanity: You can telework, it's not that bad.
Rage: I'm already "barely" in the office as it is.  It just doesn't look good to not be in the office.
Sanity: It's 1am, do we have to discuss this right.now?
Rage: YES WE FUCKING DO.  I'M SOOOO ANGRY ABOUT THIS, RIGHT NOW.
Sanity: Is it really the time?
Rage *blank stares at Sanity*
Sanity: Siiiigh, fine.  Tomorrow, we'll go to the place and have it fixed and then the problem(s) will be resolved and it will be fine.
Rage: I don't WANT to go back to that place.  They should come to me to fix it.
Sanity: Do you want to call Safelite right now to schedule it?
Rage: No, I'm tired and they probably aren't open.
Sanity: I'm tired too, which is why we don't need to be doing this right.now.
Rage: YES WE DO.  No, we don't.  You're right.
Sanity: We'll just deal with it tomorrow.  You're making a bigger deal out of this than anyone else.  No one really misses you in the office.  You're there as often as you can be.
Rage: THIS IS IMPORTANT!  The visibility through the windshield was affected and IT COULD BE DANGEROUS, MEGAN.  YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
Sanity: I am serious.  Seriously tired.
Rage: Fiiiiiiiiiine.  Tomorrow then.
Sanity: Tomorrow.  Now go back to sleep.
Rage: Can't sleep, blood pressure too high.
Sanity: You suck.

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In addition to new watch bands, I also ordered a case and screen protectors for my watch, which I installed last night.  Uhhh, here's the difference between when Teh German does something and when I do something, in this instance, installing a screen protector...

It will take me 2 tries.  It will only take Teh German 1 try. 
Oh well.  There were 4 screen protectors in the pack.  I used 2.  I got it done.

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Since switching to Google Fi, when I have an incoming call, my phone rings, my watch rings/vibrates, and if I'm on the computer, the Gmail tab will also ring.  It was a bit overwhelming, but I didn't think to see if there was a remedy the first 10 times it happened.  Well, I finally fixed Gmail not to ring when I have an incoming call, and I feel like I've earned my IT Gold Star for the week.

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There's a girl in my Chem class who is just home for the summer and taking Chem at the Citadel.  We often try to tell the non-Citadel students, there are 2 or 3, about Citadel life.. but they don't really get it. 

I think it finally hit home just how different The Citadel is from other schools when 3 of us referred to another student as "The Wrestler" because none of us knew the guy's name.  She knew his name.  She called out "The Baseball Player" (whose name I actually know because he's a CS major) since she thought they were friends.  I had to clarify for her that they had the athlete bond, not a friendship.  Totally different. 

I didn't have the heart to tell her that The Wrestler just wants to gets in her pants.  I saw it the first time he actually talked to her.  Whatevs, not my business.

BTW, I do know this girl's name.. but only because it's so fucking weird.  Like, I think her parents were hiiiiiiigh.  But other than the other transit female (who has a common, but weirdly spelled name) and the other CS majors, I do not know the names of anyone in my class.  Including the vet student who was stationed with me at VX-1.  Sometimes, I'm lucky to remember the professor's name.  Sooooo, that's a thing.

ZWEI - Money Shit

This weekend we had a money discussion to better allocate money to savings/money market accounts because free money via interest, interests me highly.  Additionally, my spending has been, one might say, a bit excessive, not really, but it feels like it, which means that I need to better allocate dollars so funds are NOT where I can see them.  That seems silly, but it is what works for me.


-Principle payment on Willow.  Might be more of these in more of these in the near future because, ideally, I'd like to have her paid off before school ends, when that GI Bill money dries up.  It's bittersweet.
-Car wash subscription
-Groceries
-Watch screen protector and face protector
-Shipping for a return of the Sparkle Skirt capris
-Bojangles for Monday.. and Friday breakfast. 🤷
-Audible subscription, which I forgot to cancel.  UGH.
-Textbooks for Fall 2019 semester (which was quite alarming when I couldn't figure out what those charges were on my credit card statement)
-Walmart things.  I had a coupon code for $10 off a $50 order and I made it a Grocery order so we can just pick it up.  Money spent and money saved.  All the items were items that we actually use/needed (dishwasher tabs, sunscreen, creamer, Nexium, decent sized (larger than 1GB) USB drive), so I didn't feel bad about spending the money just to use the code.
-360° rotate/tilt stand for the Amazon Show.  I used cash back rewards to purchase it, so it cost me $0, which was the plan all along... Thanks Prime Day purchases for all dem rewards.
-Thursday sweet tea, since someone was willing to deliver it since they were already going to Chickfila.



-Received the return $$ from my Fossil smartwatch I sent back at the beginning of the month... after having to call them to ask where my money was... andddd thennn... on Wednesday, I came home to a box on the counter with a "warranty repaired" Fossil watch.  Uhhh wut?  So now I have to decide if I'm going to do the honest thing and return it back to Fossil or just try and sell it on Marketplace without a box or instructions.
-Returned the Garmin smartwatch.  That was a happy $300 back to my account, unfortunately the return hit before the rewards could hit.. but ya know, that figures.

DREI - From My Phone Shit

Former Coworker Snapped this to me because she gets me..

Thanks, Brit!
Apparently you can't use beef stew as a password.
It's not stroganoff.

When someone shares a photo of you with their newborn from 5 years ago and posts a photo for current reference and you respond with your current reference photo.  I crack me up.

There is a bag at the gym.
#GameOn
I brought my gloves with me on Wednesday and got some punches in.
It was extremely satisfying... until my torso started getting sore from going too hard.

This is still cracking me up.

The "I'm too lazy to make dinner" x2 (1x from Megan, 1x from Teh German).

I did a beef stirfry type of thing another night to make up for cereal night.

When a classmate doesn't want his entire biscuit and you help him remedy the problem.
#NoRagrats

It's like in the summer, the hamper becomes a magical reproduction place and more clothing than normal generates between washes.  Really.  I used to do a few loads of laundry on one day per week.  Now I do 1 load of laundry every other day just so the hamper doesn't overflow.  Ugh.  I hate summer.

When the trash bag just collapses on itself in the bin, I get irrationally angry and refuse to fix it.

Snuggles with Meri during Tuesday night's thunderstorm.
See also: That one time when I stupidly allowed myself to be mosquito bait and had welts on my legs and feet for the next week.

When the dry erase markers are a knock off brand and don't erase...

VIER - From the Internet Shit

Cosmo is life.
Also, Cosmo is a borzoi, which part of me still wants, despite the shedding.

FÜNF - Things that made me happy this week

1. 93 on my Chem test last week.  Wewwwtttt.
2. Surviving this week.  IDK why, but Wednesday, it was a test of will to get out of Willow to go into the building for lab and class.  
3. A motherfucking COLD FRONT IN JULY.  Filed under: Shit I never knew I needed.
4. An early date-aversary celebration with Teh German. 
5. Helping a coworker not waste food by eating all the watermelon.
6. When someone else's plans falling through gets me an invitation to go to Hall's Chophouse for dinner.  BISON STEAK AND TRUFFLE BUTTTTTTTEEERRRRRRRR... YYYYASSSSS.
7. Seeing that the succulent babies that I took from the CS/Math teacher lounge are about to make more babies!  It means that I'm thinking about transplanting some to the outside succulent box, I just don't know if they are strong enough yet....
8. ONE more week of Chemistry.
9. Planning an NC weekend.
10. Solid playlists on Spotify.

Happy Friday, Gentle Readers.

Five on Friday #201

EINS - Random Shit

Receiving an email from my Chemistry teacher on Tuesday knotted my stomach up and gave me such anxiety.  What a fun start.... NOT.  Anyways, the email said that we were scheduled to have our first test on July 12th, which is semi-convenient for me, as I was really hoping to go visit Teh Running Bestie that weekend... anddd if I can take the test early (on the 11th), then I'm not even missing any class!  WIN.

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I'm a summer hater.  I know there are people who thrive in the heat, but I am not that person.  Being hot and sweaty makes me angry.  Having swamp ass for every single day for months, from just sitting outside or walking to/from my car or even just sitting in my air conditioned car on my non-cooled leather seats, makes me rationally angry.

To wear shorts means to feel obligated to shave my legs.  To wear shorts also means that my thighs stick to ever fucking surface I come in contact with... and nothing about peeling my skin from the place where I'm sitting brings me joy.

"Feels like 111"
You know why that fucker isn't wearing britches?
So he doesn't have to deal with swamp ass.

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I don't love my new smartwatch.  I just don't.  I like how it looks, but I don't like how it functions.  I've only used the tap to pay once and it wasn't as easy as using my phone.  I thought it would be awesome.  It's not.  I can't figure out how to get messages to always display when they come in, instead of me having to swipe to see them.

I requested a return label so I can return it.  The label finally arrived on Thursday evening, so I packaged the watch and charging cable up and dropped it in the mailbox for Friday pickup. 

Now to find the watch I want (Garmin Forerunner 645 NO music) on sale....

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I officially have a seasonal section in my wardrobe.  I got tired of having to fetch my shorts from the dresser, so I swapped my shorts with my workout pants and now my shit is righted around.  This seems like such a simple solution, but it was a big deal for me to have seasonal clothes that need to be switched out.  I've never been that person.  I never wanted to be that person, because that's just so much work.. butttt I think I've finally accepted shorts wearing as a thing.. because it's just so fucking hot in Charleston and shorts = less swamp ass.

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I skipped the gym on Wednesday because I'm lazy AF, so I made sure to go today.  And then I did sprints and couldn't really catch my breath for like 2 hours after the fact.. I only did like 10 total sprint segments... after 40 minutes on the elliptical and some core work.  I need to work on this. 

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We're a watermelon family.  #SorryNotSorry

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When I walked into my Chemistry class and my teacher said, "You don't look excited to be here."  I had to explain that I was confused because I thought we were meeting in a different classroom, where I went first and it was locked.  Apparently, in her email that whole part about meeting in a different classroom was only regarding where we meet for LAB, not CLASS. 

I read that email multiple times and was confused every time.  Good thing I went early.

In fun news, there are at least 2 other computer science students who I know in the class and the dude that I worked with in my original Chem class in 2017.  Soooo yay for knowing people!

I think the professor realized that I really just had RBF upon walking into the classroom, not a disdain for all things... well I mean.. in that situation.  I realized that waiting 2 years between Chem 1 and Chem 2 is a disaster.  Soooo that's a fun thing I have to figure out.

Oh yeah, did I mention that we didn't actually cover all the material we were supposed to in Chem 1, so I'm already behind in Chem 2?  What a joyful life I live!!! lol  We already have homework, as expected, sooooo here we go again, Gentle Readers.

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Teh German's computer is fixed.  I didn't update the firmware on the SSD nor did I download the software for the SSD.  Let's just hope he doesn't click on some clickbait and get a virus.  I can't handle that.

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I kinda want to edit my photos from Europe. 
I'm kinda too lazy.
This is my life now.
🤷

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Pax started limping on Thursday morning (aka the 4th of July, aka a HOLIDAY) and the dogs have a 24 hour observation period before I will take them to the vet.  Thankfully, a neighbor had some rimadyl they gave me so I could give it to Pax to see if it helped.  It did, woot!

On Friday morning, Pax was significantly improved.  He wasn't 100% back to normal, but I could tell the medication helped.  I did not make a vet appointment for him though.  I'm hoping the medication for 2 days helped him relax some and he's not been overly active since it's been raining and he's been hurting, so I'm hoping some downtime will assist with his recovery.

If he's still limping by the end of the weekend, a vet appointment will be made. 

I'm trying to be positive that it's just a tweaked muscle or something from playing with Meri or doing zoomies in the yard, but it's hard with a greyhound to not be paranoid when it comes to cancer, no matter how old they are.  People send positive thoughts for the Moose.

ZWEI - Money Shit

-Amazon purchases.  Mostly shirts that end up getting returned the next day because they don't fit/I don't like them.  #SorryNotSorry
-Freezer stock up at Sam's
-Groceries
-Metto x2 (this is what happens when I'm in Mount Pleasant 2x in one week)
-Vicious Biscuit for lunch with former Coworker
-Warranty for Meri's harness which she ate like a millionty years ago and I'm just going about getting it replaced because I got motivated.
-Gas
-Shipping for Meri's harness
-Bojangles for breakfast on Monday
-Parking for brunch downtown on the 4th
-Water bill
-Lab book for my Chemistry lab.  1 millionty praise hand emojis for not having to buy the textbook..
-Cleaners
-Car payment
-Internet bill
-New pillow
-Old Navy shopping spree for $10 shorts.  #WorthIt


I returned my Fossil watch, so hopefully the refund will be posting soon AND I will find the watch that I want on sale... because I may not be Chinese, but I'm almost as cheap as one.

DREI - From My Phone Shi

Coworker brought in Krispy Kreme on July 3rd.
She's my spirit animal.

What was the most famous dance in 1776?
Indepen-dance

Vicious Biscuit, bitches.

Teh Running Bestie and I have this shirt in long sleeve and when I discovered they made it in short sleeve, I HAD to buy it.
#NoRagrats

Dear Subaru,
While I appreciate your focus on safety, these warnings that appear every 10 minutes that keep coming back after I've hit ok are extremely obnoxious and distracting.. soo like, LESS SAFE.
Also, please note that it's a miraculous 78°F outside.
I almost went on a street run instead of going to the gym I was so excited about it.. buttttt then I didn't want to deal with being soaked or the dog's excitement.

VIER - From the Internet Shit

Thanks to Steph for this gem.

One day you will look back and see:
Despite everything you were missing,
You did not miss out on what was meant for you.
MHN

The shadows that gathered around her could not hinder the light running wild within.
MHN

And if I fail?
I will rise up.
I will rise up and I will try again.
I will my low points as the lesson that help me grow in wisdom and strength.
MHN

FÜNF - Things that made me happy this week

1. Dogs that have no storm/loud noise (firework) phobias.  Phil used to get pretty weirded out by storms, so I have experienced that life, but for Pax and Meri, the 4th is another day.  Meri didn't like the noise, but she was more curious why there was banging (fireworks) at bedtime than upset by it.
2. Teleworking on Friday.
3. Chemistry class finally starting and not having to buy the book.  301 days until graduation.  I'm finally on the tail end of this adventure and it's now OBVIOUS TO ME and I'm fucking ready.
4. Acknowledging that I didn't like my fancy smartwatch and sending it back.  Real talk y'all... I'm a HUGE Google fan, but Google Wear fucking sucks, but I refuse to go to an iPhone to wear an Apple Watch, soooo I had to seek out other alternatives.
5. Rain.  I hate when it's a millionty fucking degrees outside.. HHHHAAATTTEEEEE.  And I might complain about getting drenched when buckets of water are pouring from the sky.. but if you ask if me I'd rather be soaked in sweat or soaked in rain, that is a simple answer: RAIN ALL DAY.  
6. Embracing the casual life and wearing shorts this week to work.  Most of the people I work with wear shorts and t-shirts and flip flops to work anyways, but I know that for females there is always a higher standard and even a bit of a competition regarding being professional with clothing choices.  Those flip-flop wearers are male.
7. Buying long inseam shorts.  Look, if you can pull off a 3.5 inch inseam, good on you.. but I'm too fucking old for that.  Hell, I thing 5 inch inseams are too short sometimes.  My favorite so far has been the 7 and 9 inch inseams.  #OldFuckingLadyStatus  Also, no one needs to be seeing my bits/butt cheeks.  I have an audience for that: Teh German, Meri, and Pax.
8. Simple dinners.  We did leftovers and sandwiches for most of the week.  Low effort is where it's at when it's hot AF.
9. Lazy 4th of July.  We went to brunch, I took a nap, I went to the pool, we grilled in with Teh PT Fam, then it was bedtime.  No fireworks because I wasn't interested and because the local ones got cancelled anyways.  Oh well.
10. Mixed load laundry.  My LOE (level of effort) these days is considerably low.  Mixed loads = 1 load of laundry instead of 2+.  1 load = less monitoring, less folding sessions, less effort.  This is my life now.

Happy Friday, Gentle Readers.

Five on Friday #196

EINS - This Week

Monday: School, Doner with Teh Deutsch Asien for lunch, then home for homework and flashcard creation.

Tuesday: School, ramen for lunch (it was disappointing), then dinner was out since I needed to go to the grocery store for my breakfast cheese (livin' like a real German up in here).  I picked Tuesday as my "GoPro" day.  I recorded my commute to/from school.  I wanted to record some stuff during class, but didn't have anywhere to place the camera and the teacher/school is crazy strict about permission forms for showing people in videos.. so it just wasn't worth it.  The video isn't compiled and edited/created yet, but maybe I'll share it where when it's done.  IDK.  We'll see.  It's not like a fantastic work of art because I'm carrying around an action camera with a selfie stick and the camera bobs around like crazy.. but if you are interested in what it looks like to take the train in Germany, it's probably interesting to you.

When the stove takes too fucking long, so you use the instant boiler to make ramen.

Kölsch with dinner.

In case you want to know what delicious looks like (and tastes like):
THIS IS IT.
Translation: pan fried potatoes with white asparagus with ham, hollandaise sauce, and a metric ton of cheese.
I'll be going back there for dinner before I leave.

After dinner, I stopped by the Eiscafe for ice cream...
It was right by the grocery store.
I have no will power.
#SorryNotSorry

Wednesday: School, tried to get boba tea during our 1200 break, but the line was out the door and I made it there at 12:03 and they opened at 12.  FML.  Had legit Chinese food for lunch with some schoolmates (who were Chinese and Japanese (which was great), so after I explained that I couldn't eat spicy food, but I trusted them, they ordered several dishes which we shared family style = wise life choice by me (self high-five)).  Then, my worst fucking nightmare happened.  I asked Googly to get me home and when I went to the platform to the subway, IT WAS CLOSED.  I tried other platforms nearby and THEY WERE ALL CLOSED AND WTFFFF?!?!?!  I was messaging Teh German and Teh Running Bestie and Teh German did some searching and learned that there had been a fire in an electrical room and they closed the platforms because of smoke.  FUCKING CHAOS.  Police and fire vehicles were all over the streets, so vehicle traffic was fucked up, AND SO WAS public transit.  I ended up finding a bus that would get me a 10 minute walk from the flat, so that's what I did.  I was so overwhelmed I didn't even get a photo of what my worst nightmare looks like.  That's a blogger fail, but trust me, it happened.  Of course it happened while I am here.  Why wouldn't some sort of public transit fail happen while I'm around?

After I finally got home, it was time for work/homework and a nap because I've been soooooo exhausted, and then up and out again for the final Stammtisch, where we had to wait over an hour for our food, a.fucking.gin.  Me = pissed.  We have one last dinner gathering and I asked if it was at the brewery we went to for Stammtisch because if I was told yes, I wouldn't have been going.  Nopeeeeeee.  Not gonna wait an hour on my food for 3 weeks in row.  Not happening.

Teh Deutsch Asien likes to try new dark chocolates.
While this wasn't dark chocolate, it was PINK chocolate from ruby cocoa beans, so she tried this pink KitKat with me.

#FoodPornLife
We killed some food.
#NOTSORRY

May 2020 cannot come soon enough.

#WhenInGermany #RadlerLife

Thursday: School, finally obtained a boba tea (it was a fail), then I met Auntie P at Kö, the extremely upscale shopping area in Düsseldorf.  And by extremely upscale I mean... Tiffany's, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, etc.  Like, places my cheap ass doesn't shop at.  Our first stop was lunch.  We ate at an Italian place.  After lunch we did some window shopping, then we went on a hunt for boba tea that wasn't disgusting and was unsuccessful because they only had tapioca boba and i was NOT suffering through that shit again.  NO.  Instead, we found a cafe and ordered dessert and chatted for a while.  Eventually, we decided it was time to go home.  I managed to get back to the flat with zero issues, Auntie P did walk with me part of the way to the platform just in case, which I appreciated.. what with my public transit issues.

I tried a new boba tea from the place by the school and this was their "special" with tapioca.
Coincidentally, this is the day I learned that I fucking hate tapioca boba and anything that is supposed to taste like brown sugar/caramel.  Strawberry boba pearls or NO BOBA TEA.

When I got home, I was feeling motivated, so I decided to take care of my laundry situation.  Aka, the Laundry Fairy made an appearance for the first time since the end of April.  I had to search the entire flat to find where my host put the laundry pods I purchased, but I finally found them.  I borrowed a large bag she'd left out (lucky me), and headed to the Waschsalon (laundromat).  I managed the washer and dryer without too much #LanguageBarrier issues.  While the laundry washed and dried, I worked on homework, to include recording a video for the 10 "vlogs" I have to turn in for my Citadel credit for my German study abroad.  These videos have been very difficult for me to start doing because ... I'm camera shy.  I don't mind photos, but video is another story... PLUS in German?  Kill me now.  I also had grand hopes of doing awesome videos with edits and showing cool shit, but those days have passed.  Now, I'm just talking to my cell phone and describing my days or why I was at the Waschsalon recording a video (because my Host didn't want me to use the washing machine).  Whatever.  I don't think these videos are going down in a history book.

Anyways, after I got home and put my laundry away I worked on homework until it was time to talk to Teh German and then bedtime.

Friday: School, then I went out with Teh Deutsch Asien for lunch and exploring.  First, we stopped at the boba tea place so I could get some boba that wasn't fucking disgusting and THEN we went exploring.  We wanted to check out a market, but it was rather disappointing and very small.  There was only one stand selling food, so we didn't even bother.  Instead, she led us to a restaurant she had seen and we had lunch.  It said it was a mexican/tapas restaurant, but it really wasn't very mexican-ish at all.  We both had fish dishes, which were pretty good.

I love these little Bücherei (book store/place) around town.
Granted, all the books are in German, but the concept brings me joy.

A radler with lunch.

Fish with risotto with tiny shrimps in it.

After lunch, we hit up an ice cream place.

After ice cream, we stopped at a few shops, to include a super adorable chocolate shop.

Translation: Everything is good as long as there is chocolate.

Translation: Life is to short for bad chocolate.

Translation: made with love and sweetly packed.

Everything looked delicious.

After the chocolate store, we headed to the Rheinturm (the Düsseldorf Media Tower).  Teh Deutsch Asien hadn't been there before and I was willing to go again.  Unfortunately, a screaming kid really ruined the experience for me, but I survived.  After the tower, we headed to the Ghery buildings, which are famous for their weird architecture... annndd it sprinkled on us, despite being a gorgeous day.  Because, why wouldn't it rain every day in May when I'm here?

Translation: Welcome to the Rhine Tower

Look, a photo of me!

We are adults.

OBVIOUSLY.

After a quick photo shoot, we headed back to the Rheinuferpromenade (Rhine Promenade (aka the boardwalk)) and walked to my favorite selfie wall.

This interesting contraption told about energy use and some other sciency stuff that I didn't feel like reading.

The Rhine is a HUGE shipping river for Germany.

The house fronts never get old.

Favorite selfie wall!!!
It's too bad I look so fucking tired...
Because I am so fucking tired.

Adults.
We.are.adults.

After selfies, we headed back to our respective flats.  I had some work I wanted to accomplish and plenty of never ending fucking homework to do.  Instead, I gave myself a pass on homework, tried to do my work stuff, unsuccessfully because slow internet, then decided to take some time to blog.  I did take a blogging break to record a vlog while I was feeling motivated and before it got dark.  I must do these when I have motivation because I need like 7 more freaking videos and that annoys me.

I will talk to Teh German when he gets off work and then it will be my bedtime.  FUN!

ZWEI - Random Shit

-When I arrived in Germany I feared that I'd have so much free time and I would be bored.  Far, far from it.  At this point, I feel like I have no time to do anything else.  I try to make time to go out and do things since my time here is limited and I ensure that my homework is complete (although not always as soon as it's due).  I didn't even have time to work on this post all week, that's where I'm at in life.. and I imagine the schedule will not get back to normal until we get back to America.  My computer isn't used to the lack of action it's getting!

-I have a favorite selfie spot in Düsseldorf.  #NotSorry

-My host lady didn't want me using her washing machine.. to the point that SHE told ME that I had enough to clothes to last until she got back from her trip, and I'd be fine.  Rather than deal with that, I just said if I need to wash clothes, I'd figure it out myself, and told her ok whatever.  After realizing that I definitely did not have enough bras or socks or underwear, I was on the hunt for a laundromat.  I found one and washed my laundry all by myself (gasp!) on Thurs evening.  I didn't have any struggles and it was kinda surreal.

-But the universal balance is that when I was searching for the delicates bags, I broke one of the latches on an outside closet door.  Soooo I have to fess up to that when she returns.  Oops.

-I learned on Thursday or Wednesday (I can't remember, it's been that kind of week) that our last day of class is Tuesday.  I didn't realize this when I scheduled my exam for a fucking Friday 2 months ago.  Because the information I got said the class went to the 30th.  Except that the actual last day is for people taking the exam after a class.. meaning I could have taken my exam on Wednesday, but since I didn't know until a week prior, there was no way to change it.  I asked.  They said the test was full.  Also, the fact that I cried about this in the office after I asked and was told no was probably a little irrational, but it was a 100% PMS reaction, which makes sense because I've been tired AF and bloated AF.

-My water bottle dropped slid out of my backpack pocket and then fell out of the train as I was getting off so now it's got 2 dents in the bottle.  Thankfully, it's not super wobbly.  Or rather, unfortunately it's not super wobbly, which means I have no reason to buy a new one... lol

-I talked to Teh German for the last time tonight before I GET TO SEE HIM!!! YYYAAYYY and boo.  When he said that he wouldn't talk to me on Saturday, I actually was super disappointed.  Like, I know it's for a good reason, he's on his way here.. but dayum yo.. I have needs.  Husband needs.  Need to talk to Husband needs.

-There is no microwave here and the shower head is not mounted to the wall.  I know there are people who actually use a head connected via tube or pipe or whatever you want to call it from the tub facuet to shower with and not a wall mounted shower head, but it annoys the fuck out of me.  It's exhausting.  I just want to wash myself and not be touched by anything.

-I'm also over feeling like a failure because I'm not doing well in the class.  I'm over having and doing homework.  I'm over missing my Husband and my dogs and my friends and my bed and a shower where the shower head is mounted to the wall. 

I enjoyed some of the adventures and getting to speak German when I could, but honestly.. I'm fucking over it and I'm ready to be on vacation and not having to think about things I MUST DO for 2 weeks and then being home.

DREI - From My Phone Shit

Food uncovered in the fridge makes me rationally angry.
And it fucking smells.
I hate it.
This is why I have a countdown.

Those sparkly shoes.

Cocaine and Caviar..
DAFUQ?

This has been my favorite graffiti of all the street I've seen.

Also, I've shared some interesting shit on Snapchat as well, so ya know, follow me there if you're interested in more things.

VIER - From the Internet Shit

Oh, you think you can beat me internet?
NO.  I will show you my super powers...
AKA, I can use TeamViewer like a motherfucking boss.
Sooo to get around this, I signed into TeamViewer on my work computer and ordered dog meds.
#LikeABoss

FÜNF - Things that made me happy this week

1. Teh Deutsch Asien sharing her chocolate with me.  This was especially important on Thursday when I had a meltdown.  It was literally like the Dementors came and I was super sad then I had chocolate and everything was better.  Ironically, after telling Teh Running Bestie about my woes, she suggested I have some chocolate and I explained that was exactly the solution I employed.
2. The host lady being on vacation this week, which means that my shit stayed plugged in ALL WEEK LONG.  DO NOT CURR.
3. Getting my flashcards completed.. even if I didn't use them a single time all week long....
4. Adventures and new places and trusting other people to made food choices for me.
5. The very ghetto painters tape keeping the T key in place on my keyboard.  It's not coming off anymore and I will be sending in my laptop for repairs when I return to Charleston. Boo/Yay.
6. Getting the laundry washed without problems.  I always assume there will be problems when I do new things.  I am always pleasantly surprised when there are none.  #ExpectTheWorst
7. 2 more days of class.  
8. Planning activities next week with Teh German.
9. A medal this weekend.  :)
10. GETTING A HUG FROM TEH GERMAN IN 1 DAY 11 HOURS.

Happy Friday, Gentle Readers.