Weekend Review {07/08}

FRIDAY

Friday was a telework day since no one was planning on being in the office.  I wasn't sad about it.  I got to sleep in.  I did have my first day of Chem class on Friday (rude), so I went to class from 10-12, then went to the gym after.

My Poogan's leftovers I ate for breakfast exploded in the microwave...
so I had the pleasure of cleaning the microwave before my day even started.
RUDE.

I practically had to swim to the front door of the gym because it was raining so hard.  Actually, I had to get a workout towel to dry my legs and arms off before I changed into my workout clothes, that's how wet I was, WITH an umbrella.   And officially, my Birks stink SOOO bad that I'm not sure how much longer it will be tolerable, which is shitty considering how much I paid for those fuckers.  Siiiiiigh.  If anyone has any helpful hints on removing the smell from Birks/cork shoes, I'm all ears.

After my workout, I headed home and did work things for the afternoon until Teh German came home.  We ended up going out to dinner at the supa fancy Olive Garden with Teh PT Wife.  After dinner, Teh PT Wife and I went to the mall for things and Teh German went home.  We purposely drove separate vehicles so he wouldn't have to endure mall things.  It was better for everyone.

I ended up coming home with enough hand soap for the rest of the year and a few Wallflowers since I may have overstocked myself on the Toasted Marshmallow scent.  #NotSorry.  I'm not sure when the trend started for foam soap only, but no me gusta.  Some of the scents I wanted are only sold in foam, which is my least favorite.  I prefer the liquid with no sparkles or gel balls or whatever.  Foam just.. annoys me.  Unless I'm using it to wash my ear piercings.  Then it's kinda convenient because it washes off easily.

When we finished at the mall, we came back home and hung out with husbands since it was Smoking Hour.  Eventually, all our phone batteries were dead/dying and I'll fully horrified everyone present with tales from my childhood about how I didn't know/like super popular songs because I wasn't allowed to listen to music that wasn't selected by my parents until I was around the age of 12.  Even then, it was a slow transition from 103.3 (country) to 95.1 (pop) (and those radio stations will only make sense if you are from Western NC).

When we got home, it was bedtime.

SATURDAY

Saturday, I tried to be school productive, but it mostly didn't happen because I'm so lost with all things Chemistry.  When Teh German got up, I talked him into going to Lowe's with me to pick up the dirt and mulch that I had ordered online.  There was bickering when he refused to open the hard top for me to load mulch into the bed of the truck in a logical way and then he tisked at me because I couldn't get it to stack well (because I have short arms and was being blocked by the hard top that was hitting my face as I tried to load these huge awkward wet heavy bags of mulch into the truck).  I felt validated when Teh German HAD to open the hard top for the Lowe's dude to load the dirt into the bed.  HA. 

We got home and got ready for brunch at High Cotton with Teh PT Fam.  We headed downtown around 1130 for our 1200 reservation.  The food was good, but IMO, not the best brunch I've ever had.  IDK why.  I had a lobster omelet with fries and Teh German ordered the chicken and waffles and then ordered a side of fries because he was still hungry.  That's not a good thing.

After brunch, we went to Vendue, for drinks on the rooftop.  We people watched and people judged.  Thankfully, there was a breeze on the rooftop, which made it bearable to sit outside.  Otherwise, it would have been too hot.  After beverages were finished, we hit up the gelato place.  I forgot we are in America and asked for 2 scoops, which came out to be like 4 European scoops.  I had to get a bowl for the gelato that was packed on top of the cone, which I knew would melt and slide off in about 15 seconds in the Charleston heat.  I scraped the gelato into the bowl, ate the cone and then ate what I could of the bowl, and ended up tossing what I couldn't eat before we left the parking garage.

Once we got back home, it was naptime.

After naps, I got annoyingly motivated again.  I talked Teh German into doing backyard work since it was shady behind the house.  He agreed.  I had planned to use the wagon for transporting the dirt from the back of the truck to the raised plant bed Teh German had built for my succulents, but the wagon had wood stacked in it.  So, I suggested that we get rid of the "bad" wood (did you know wood can go bad and actually not burn well?  Well, we know that now, too) by tossing it in the woods, then stack the wood from the wagon where the bad wood was (in the wood holder that Teh German had build from pallet wood). 

Except that, after we relocated all the bad wood, we had unearthed a LOT of critters who had been inhabiting said bad wood and the wood holder was not only kinda wet from never drying, but also being eaten into by said critters.  Ugh. 

We relocated the raised bed to the end of the patio so the water run off from the roof wouldn't destroy my plants, then we carried bags of dirt to the backyard.  A project that I thought would take no less than 4 bags of dirt only took 2.5 bags, which means that now we have a LOT of extra dirt on our hands that either needs to be rehomed or returned.  Ugh.

After finishing with the raised bed, we were going to sit under the pergola to cool off, but when Teh German sat down, his normal chair was DRIPPING with water.  Not only was this odd, because no water should be coming in the pergola getting the furniture wet, but the cushion was dripping and it was 24 hours post rain.  Teh German tried to ring the cushion out, but it kept dripping.  Eventually, he removed the cover and put it in a place to drain and dry out. 

I'm not sure how, but this led me to asking him to fetch the shop vac and I proceeded to vacuum all the patio furniture, finally getting rid of that HUGE ass spider web.  I did discover the spider and asked Teh German for something to kill said spider with and he came back with critter spray... I meant a paper towel or a shoe or something immediately lethal.  Teh German sprayed the spider and it took off running and then we were unable to find it again.... 🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦

That was the point at which I insisted on vacuuming ALL the patio furniture completely.  I also vacuumed the rug.  When everything was put back together, I asked Teh German if he wanted to hang out outside or inside and he said inside and I was legit disappointed.  I HAD DONE ALL THAT WORK!  But there was AC inside and The Americans.. so I said ok.

We had leftovers for dinner and then we watch The Americans until midnight when we finally went to bed.

SUNDAY

Sunday was productive day.  Teh German actually got up with the dogs before I could get annoyed with Meri laying in my leg space so I actually got to go back to sleep, which is very rare.  I ended up getting up around 0945 and making gravy for the leftover biscuits we brought home from Poogan's Porch brunch on the 4th.

Made with love and a little melted plastic...
Oops.
Although this "modification" really made stirring the bottom of the pan easier.

Teh German had 2nd breakfast with my first breakfast and then I went into study mode for Chemistry and Teh German finished working on fish tank things he'd been working on all morning.  Teh German went over to Teh PT House to watch FIFA while I suffered through reacquainting myself with Chem. 

After a 1 hour break to talk with Teh Running Bestie, I did make minimal progress, hopefully it will be sufficient for the quizzes and test we have this week.  The professor put 2 old tests on the class website, so I printed those out and started taking them as a means to help myself recognize what I don't understand (from Chem 1) and what I need to ask about.

My goal is to take Friday's test on Thursday so I can go to MD this upcoming weekend for Megan-Teh Running Bestie time.  I haven't purchased my tickets yet, just in case, but I'm planning on it, while Teh Running Bestie is NOT planning on it, so she's not disappointed in case something happens.  Fair.

When Teh German finally came home, I had finished up with as much Chemistry as I was going to accomplish.  He was kinda surprised.  Again, leftovers for dinner and then we watched The Americans until bedtime.

Sometimes, fuzzy feet try to pierce my face.
#MeriHazards

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It was such a weird weekend because Wednesday kinda felt like Friday and Friday kinda felt like Monday but also Friday.. Saturday felt like Sunday and Sunday was just weird. 

For real, being back in class has me in a funk and it's not so good.  I'm questioning how I'm going to survive another 295 of schooling.  Teh Running Bestie suggested maybe going back on the anxiety meds, but I would have to find a medication that doesn't have forgetfulness as a side effect, because that's the real reason I had to stop taking the anxiety meds.. and my general no-fucks given attitude had escalated to maybe too high levels.  Oops.  I think I'm supposed to have my lady appointment at the end of July or August (I can't remember because it's not scheduled because they said they'd call me to schedule when it's time, annoying) and I was going to ask my OB/GYN at the appointment for either a medication that my insurance covers or a referral to a general practice doc who isn't part of the office that I'm boycotting after my March sickness.

I might also have some PMS going on.  That snuck up on me.

I have to get back into the school-work swing of things, which is annoying because it means my days are super long and exhausting.  Also, I've not been sleeping well, so that only makes each day seem longer (not really just seem, since the days really are long when you don't fill them with sleeping).

This week is the first full week of class and the teacher doesn't hate me, so that's a positive.  She also has noticed that I'm trying to be on top of things, not just because I'm trying to leave town this weekend. 

The calendar is currently void of activities, other than my impending travels.

Oh yeah, and Pax was fine all weekend so I cancelled his vet appointment that was scheduled for this afternoon.  No need to waste $150+ for him to just be milking me for attention.  Siiiiiigh.

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 #191

EINS - Random Shit

-I reread my Monday post and holy fucking grammatical/spelling errors.  What a disaster.  I've fixed them, but it's embarrassing still.

-I KNOW it's a SERIES, but the Hurricanes winning 5-0 Monday night against the Capitals brought me so much fist pumping joy.  Yes, one of our key players was KOed by Ovechkin, but I assume he probably deserved it.  I found it quite amusing that all my Caps FB friends were silent for almost the entire game, other than the reactions from the Ovie fight.  Especially after several of them were posting on FB bragging cheering about their team winning after their first 2 wins.

It's hard being a Hurricanes fan sometimes.  This is our first time in the playoffs in 10 years.  We won the Stanley Cup in 2006 and I was bartending there the next season when we were NOT playing like Stanley Cup champions.

I will say that the Capitals are my backup team.  I cheered for the Caps last year in the playoffs.  Our local ECHL team, the South Carolina Stingrays, feed, ultimately, to the Caps (first to the Hershey Bears, then to the Caps), so I have some allegiance there.  I'm going to come out of the first round with a team to cheer for either way.  Granted, my NC born heart would love a Carolina win, but I'm afraid to get my hopes up.

-Ever feel like you do something for a while and then decide to quit and right before you quit, everyone else starts doing it?  That's how I feel about 9 Rounds (a kickboxing gym).  Teh Sister sent a snap this week about going to the kickboxing gym had enabled her to lose so much weight her wedding dress was now too big on her.  Someone else on FB posted that they had started going to a TITLE kickboxing gym.  And I'm over here like, I'm quitting the kickboxing gym because I don't go enough to get my moneys worth (because running mostly and sometimes real life is just overwhelming) and the owner pissed me off, despite the fact that, for the most part, I really do enjoy the workouts.

-I follow/like very few Facebook pages because I'm very particular about what I want to see on my News Feed.  Within the last few months I liked the Disgruntled Vets (DV) page on FB and it's usually some salty memes about military life, usually inappropriate, like every vet expects.  Wednesday morning there was a meme posted of a female dressed "sexy" with her 2 kids, supposedly at the Commissary or some shopping place on base, with the caption to the effect of, "Husband is deployed, going hunting."  Now normally, I would turn my cheek because IDGAF, but this post just really rubbed me the wrong way.

While I like very few Facebook pages, I rarely EVER comment on public posts on public FB pages because I hate everyone because they are stupid and I do not waste my life fighting with people on the internet.  I read the comments and most of them were to the effect of, "Yep, seen that before," or generally agreeing with the meme content.  And more rage was sparked.  I actually left a comment to the effect of: I find it very ironic that you guys will post about MST and victim shaming and then you go and post shit like this.

I also saw that one of the page moderators had left a comment by the DV account (they sign their comments with their name/nickname/call sign) that "Apparently wives must now wear a burka when their husband deploys?  That's not how it works."  I actually liked the comment, another rarity.

Later, the post was no where to be found.  I am proud that I commented and glad that it was taken down.  I'm over shaming women because of what they wear.

-Teh German and I use different travel cups for our morning coffee.  He uses the small Turvis tumblers while I use these free tumblers that Teh German's Company gave him.  Well, I'm a fucking klutz and I've cracked/broken 2 in the last month by dropping them... and now I have to use the Turvis tumblers and I HATE IT.  They splash up on me if they are too full when I put the lid on and if it's too full, the air hole is blocked so the liquid doesn't come out like it should and then all of a sudden it just FLOODS out, scalding your mouth with hot fucking coffee (which Teh German has actually complained about before).  I DO NOT LIKE IT.  I told Teh German to acquire more of the shitty tumblers from his work for me.  I have made a mental vow to be more careful with them.

Or.. I mean... I could take this an an opportunity to buy tumblers for myself with fun things on them...

-I love having memorable dogs.  I called the groomer to make an appointment for Meri and they asked for the dog's name and breed and she recognized Meri after I said Podenco.  People who knew Phil was after I confirmed that, yes, he was the dog that peed on them/someone they know.

-On Thursday afternoon, I took a test in my Networks class.  I was already pissed that we were taking the test because when asked if we wanted another test, I said NO, but since the majority of the class is failing, those people needed a test to raise their grade.  So I had to take the test, which I was already irritated about.  Then, Thursday after getting to school, I realized I'd left my calculator at home.  I could have borrowed someone's calculator, buttttt I have a Casio that no one else has, so I don't know how to use a TI calculator and I didn't want to walk into a test already at a disadvantage.  I took this in stride though.  My 11 class had been cancelled, so after my 0915 ended, I headed back home, stopping at the car wash on the way.  At home, I packed my calculator in my bag, ate lunch, did work things, did the laundry, played with the beasts.  When I headed back to campus, I stopped and got gas, ensuring that Willow's chores were completed. 

The test was way harder than expected, to be completely based on homework we'd done AND that we had the answers to.  It took me almost the whole time to complete the test and then I went over the class slides to confirm one of my answers that I wasn't sure about.  Class end time came and the teacher said the test was over and as I was packing up, I turned around and saw someone working on a question I hadn't even seen.  The professor had taken my exam already and I was like, Where is that question!?  I didn't even see it!  The professor flipped through my exam and tried to show me the page where the question was, but the page was stuck to the page in front of it and he struggled to get the pages apart, proving that I hadn't seen it since the pages were still stuck together.  I had flipped through the entire test no less than 3 times to make sure I answered everything.  I asked to see the question and it was something I KNEW how to answer easily.  I asked if I could do the question and the professor laughed at me and said, "Really?"  I responded, "Yes, I obviously didn't even see the page existed until the end."  He's very by-the-book, so his lack of response was enough to know that I was fucked.  It was an extra credit question that I REALLY could have used the points on. 

So I was doubly enraged when I left, after having SUCH a good day.  Then on my way home, Waze redirected me through Park Circle because traffic and I saw a greyhound named Otis Spunklemeyer who had the "cow" pattern.  The owner didn't even get weirded out by my sitting through a green light to chat with him about his dog and how it's acceptable for greyhound people to act crazy about other greyhounds.  I was irrationally angry until I finally told Teh German about it, and then I felt better.  I just needed to tell someone about my injustice.

-When this happened today, I was CACKLING and CRYING at my desk and my coworkers were very concerned about me...  You can't really tell from the photo here, but the first photo Teh German sent was from the toilet wipes section, which I knew from brand names like Cottonelle, Huggies, etc.  I will FOREVERRRR laugh about this.

ZWEI - Money Shit

Wanna know how to know something BIG is about to happen in my life?
This section.  🤦
Also, my replacement credit card finally arrived, so 🤷.

-Bojangles.  duh.
-$5 for my annual Google storage.
-Audible
-Oshkosh shopping spree for Nephew J and Cousin A.
-More nephew overalls.  #SorryNotSorry, I had rewards to use!
-Apple pie a la mode from McDonald's... #TreatYoSelf
-Almost $500 for the dog's wellness check.  That was for bloodwork, 1 vaccination, 1 nail clipping, and for the vet to feel them up x2...  FUCK ME, kids are expensive.  (Laugh, Gentle Readers, I know furless kids are more expensive.)
-Monday sweet tea.
-Carolina Hurricanes black jersey with the hurricane flags, to replace the almost too-small red regulation jersey I currently have.  There was a 20% off code on NHL.com, it was like it was meant to be.  I couldn't decide on a player name, so I got Stormy the mascot as my jersey ##/name.  I could have gotten the female mascot, but no one would know who Caroline was, so I went with Stormy.
-A surprise for Teh German.
-Stingrays tickets for tonight.  I figure that I'm deserting my husband to study abroad in his home country to I should spend one-on-one time with him before I leave.  I had considered inviting some groupies, but opted to have date night instead.

Amazon things:
-Dog food, yay for subscription plans.
-A workout shirt that was a fail and will be returned
-Dog dewormer.  Fucking hookworms.  Bane of my existence.
-Morgan Harper Nichols book of poems (Storyteller)
-Pre-ordered the next Morgan Harper Nichols book.
-SD cards for the new inside cameras.
-Water filters for the fridge.
-An immersion blender with a whisk extension (after stirring gravy for half my freakin' life Sunday night).

DREI - From My Phone Shit

Duolingo gets me.

Frog sex.
happy spring.

That minimal time in Charleston where enough of the pollen has dispersed and it's not the temperature of hell outside
= windows down and sunroof open.

5-0 win on Tuesday!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Please note Meri's annoyance with my funking shit.
But also, please note that I was excited-anxious about the game and she's "comforting" me.
I've noticed she does this more and more these days.
She's da bestest.

2-1 win, Carolina! WOOOOOOO!!!!
That makes the series tied.
I've gone out of my way not to post about it on FB other than to post that I'm watching the game, so the Caps fans don't feel like I'm rubbing it in their faces.  BUT THIS IS MY SPACE, BITCHES, AND WE TIED THE FUCKING SERIES thus far! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

There's a storm blowing up the east coast today/this weekend and this is what I looked like after walking into work.
I honestly thought my umbrella was not going to survive the trek.
But, we made it... and then I used my space heater to dry myself.
#DoWhatYouGottaDo

A coworker brought in Krispy Kreme easter doughnuts and I was actually here.
Joy in my mouth was had.

VIER - From the Internet Shit

But I serious.
IDK why they laughed.

More German translations for you.
One can see why German can be confusing....

In the chaos of it all, she closed her eyes and remembered:
there was a time in her life not too long ago when she did not think she would make it this far.
But now... Here she is:
carrying on with newfound strength, trusting that she can make it, as she takes this day by day.
-MHN

This season is asking more of you than you ever expected,
but you are still free to take it day by day,
and moment by moment,
and allow your body and mind to rest when you need to.
-MHN

She is choosing to believe that in time,
things will come together in the way they were meant to.
-MHN

(And my phone background...)
Deep within the waiting,
she leans into the grace that gives her freedom to have peace before things fall in place.
-MHN

FÜNF - Things that made me happy this week

1. My runner abilities.  So when it's only lightly raining I can sprint to my car and move it closer to our building instead of having to deal with whatever downpour situation is going on when I finally leave.
2. Rain and the subsequent "chill" (it will still be almost 70°F, people, calm your tits).
3. 1 more week of the semester remains.
4. Hurricanes being 2-2 in the playoff series. And that 5-0 win?  FUCK YAS.
5. Narrowing down Italy plans.  Once I determine the Rome situation, I will submit and pay.
6. Friday Lunch Beers.  Granted, I don't get beer, but I do socialize with my coworkers, which is nice when you're rarely in the office.
7. Coworkers who bring in Krispy Kreme and then laugh with you as you keep tally of how many doughnuts specific people eat.  4 was the max eaten by 1 person.  Said person is always the most excited, and thankful, about others bringing in free noms.
8. Teh German choosing to shave Meri instead of keeping her shaggy.  I love shaved Meri.
9. Discovering a working Icee machine with blue AND red on campus in the store.
10. Teh German making me laugh and hugging me extra on rough days and generally being there and spending his day off today doing house projects for Teh Ville.  He's a keeper.  For forever.

Happy Friday, Gentle Readers.

Five on Friday #164 - A "Hurrication"

EINS - Random Hurricane Shit

-When you are able to telework and actually have tasking and internet and power to work, it's really not a hurrication, just to be clear.  Additionally, homework woes were also a thing.  I had lofty goals of getting ahead on homework, buttttt not so much.  Most evenings of the week were spent drinking with neighbors.  It kinda worked out better for them since most of them didn't have to go/do work the following day.  It really is kind of a killjoy.

-That said, the top image is from 9/14 at 0720, and was the most up to date image available at the time of writing this post.  I hope like hell that Wilmington and the rest of the coast and the OBX come through this.  I'm forever partial to my home state, even if I don't necessarily love the beach.

-Hurricane prep looks like this:

Who needs spring cleaning when you can just do hurricane cleaning instead?

When you're already sweaty from your workout, then you get sweatier vacuuming and moving patio furniture, then as you're putting dog poop down the sewer drain it starts to rain, you just roll with it.

Open area houses are really versatile for furniture placement.....

-Seriously though, my week has been all about hurricane and responding to well-intentioned friends asking if we're ok.  I've been posting updates on FB since Thurs since news reporting seems to think that "The Carolinas" is actually a singular area and it's extremely inaccurate which is leading a lot of people to needlessly worry about us.

-I've been using my work laptop for work things this week for reasons and the page up button is where the control key is on my personal laptop and it's made for all sorts of frustration.  There is a reason for standardization!!!!

-In my last Sam's order, I purchased coffee.  They didn't grind the beans in the massive machine right beside the coffee pallet...  I hate everyone.

-I ordered a doggy doo drain for disposing of the dog poop, thanks to Teh PT Husband.  I finally got to use it on Wednesday and because it had been so long since I scooped, I was afraid I accidentally clogged the sewer line after a whole bunch of poop fell out of the bucket and then I couldn't wash it down as effectively as I wanted to.  I didn't sleep well that night.  Thursday morning, I checked the drain.  All the poop had been washed away.  There was no more fear of a shit flood under out house.  #Miracle 

That said, this is now my favorite way to dispose of the dog poop.  It goes into the sewer line from the connection at our house and now I don't have to keep collecting plastic bags at the grocery store, there will be no more poop filled plastic bags in our garbage can, and I can go back to using my reusable bags at the grocery store.  #VICTORY!

-We went to the gym on Wednesday since they planned to close Thurs-?? and I'm pretty sure that Wednesday is the hard day.  I want to die.  I literally felt like my muscles were shredding when I was doing my last reps.  There is not enough stretching to make this better.  If I didn't know that I'd end up with a headwind in both directions (there and back), I'd go on a run.

ZWEI - Money Shit

For not leaving home for most of the week, it's been quite expensive to my bank account.

-Cleaners
-HVAC maintenance where Jerry noticed that our machine has been working overtime.  Which leads me tooooooo...
-Our power bill.....  it was about the same temps this month as last month, but since the HVAC was working harder, the bill was more expensive.  I'm about ready to kill this machine already and make them replace it.  Especially since this is 2 years in a row with issues.
-groceries
-hairs did
-massage
-pizza dinner
-dog bed for the guest room, calming treats, and something else since I had a $40 gift cert that had to be used in 30 days.
-coffee filters and something else I can't remember
-lacrosse balls for rolling my feet since I've been getting bad cramping at night.

DREI - From My Phone Shit

We saw this and thought it was AWESOME.
The bus didn't have any windows and there were mounted paintball guns in each window opening.
I assume they drive you around and you "hunt" zombies.  Not sure if they are targets or actual people, but it's still an awesome concept.

FL to NC/SC: Thanks ya'll!  Next round is on us!

Not all of my runs are epically miserable.
I had to send this selfie to Teh Running Bestie so she knew.

When your dogs are assholes and try to eat your honeymoon acquired Christmas ornaments.

When you make dinner for others and yourself, it's a LOT of sausage.
#ItSmelledAwesome

Wednesday morning "hurrication" snuggles with my Monkey.  /swoon.
This was on repeat for Thurs and Fri as well.

They did not arrive.
I DID find our reusable filter that I had stashed away.

I'm not sure what asshole critter decided my flower bush was a good place for their... nesting?
IDK.  But I am pissed every time I walk by and see the desecration.

VIER - From the Internet Shit

FÜNF - Things that made me happy this week

1. No class, even if we have to make it up later and it will make me stabby.
2. Teh German's homework assistance.
3. Finally getting to use my doggy doo drain.
4. No 0514 alarms for most of the week.
5. Reusable coffee filters.
6. Not having to put on a bra to go to work.
7. Not having to leave the house from Weds-????.  I assume by Monday or Tuesday school will resume.  We shall see how flooded downtown gets this weekend.
8. Places still being open despite an excessively early mandatory evacuation for a hurricane that hadn't even graced Charleston with it's presence at the time of writing this.
9. Audiobook and puzzle time.
10. Reading.

Happy Friday, Gentle Readers.