Weekend Review {03/11}

If you didn't see it: this post has a prequel.

THURSDAY

It was Meri's 5th Gotcha Day.

She got a new "mousies"

We snuggled.

She was adorable.

And hilarious.

Pax also got a new toy.

And snuggles because my dogs are jealous AF of each other when the other is getting attention.

I took my midterm.

I did my homework.

I went to class.

When we got out of class early at 3:50, I was Spring Break bound!

Came home to a "happy tail" murder scene/art, courtesy of Meri.

THE GREEN CARD ARRIVED.

So, Teh German and I opted to go to Lewis Barbeque for dinner to start the celebration for the scholarship and the green card and the start of Spring Break.

Initially, for our celebration of all the things, we had considered going to the airport and picking a destination and being there for the weekend then coming back, but I had some serious reservations about this plan. Mainly, the limited number of destinations from Charleston and the fact that we only had a weekend.  I explained these things to Teh German on our way to dinner Thursday night and we agreed on a Charleston treat yo'self staycation instead.

Of course, despite Teh German having taken the planning of this adventure upon himself, I had already done some research because I am a control freak.  Which I openly admitted to Teh German and he agreed with me, but also appreciated my dedication.  I had found 2 places downtown with availability and we had booked them Thursday night.  We planned for ghost tours on Friday and Saturday night and we planned fancy dinner Friday night and fancy lunch on Saturday. 

After we got home from dinner, since we didn't have an early start on Friday, we stayed up later than normal and watched a few episodes of The Office.

FRIDAY

After some arranging on Wednesday, Teh German and I took PTO on Friday so we could start our staycation relaxed.  We woke up around 8, fed the beasts, then headed to the gym to get our workout out of the way.  We also stopped by CVS so I could pick up my hot flashes birth control (BC) and cash for Cold Hands, our dog sitter.

I ended up paying ~80 for 3 months worth of my BC with the Lo Loestrin coupon I found on the internet.  My insurance deductible would have been around $350.  For real, fuck the US healthcare/insurance system.  After taking care of errands, we headed home, showered, packed, and then lounged on the couch.  I ended up taking a nap, which I'm not sorry about, especially considering we had a ghost tour scheduled that night.  Around 3:30, we headed downtown since we could check into our first hotel at 4.

The Wentworth Mansion was beyond my expectations.  From the moment we pulled into the parking lot and were greeted by a bellhop, we felt fancy AF.  The bellhop carried our luggage in for us!  We got checked in, we received a short tour of the common area (sitting room, garden/tea room, cognac/port enclave, the elevator that would lead us to the cupola), then we were led to our rooms where the bellhop showed us where everything was, to include showing us how to turn off the classical music that was playing, the robes, iron, hair dryer, fridge with water, etc.

We had our own umbrella!

We had reservations at 5:30 at Peninsula Grill, so we sat in the fancy armchairs on our phones, just chillin' and taking in the fanciness, until it was time to leave to walk to dinner.

I grabbed one of the antelope mushroom tarts for the walk.
Zero regrets.

The best part about staying downtown is that everything is within walking distance.  It was nice not having to worry about parking for the car or feeding the meter.

Crab cake with caviar in little onions as an appetizer.

I joked that the value of this sweet grass basket to be around $600.
That was probably extreme, but I can see having to pay at least $100 for a basket that tall.
It just held a delightful roll of bread.

Tilefish special entree with carrots and some green stuff.

Duck with pesto and oyster mushrooms and some other less important veggies.

Their speciality: coconut cake.
I personally found it a bit dry and I don't overly love flaked coconut, but Teh German really enjoyed it.

Tiny espresso!

After dinner, we had some time, so we headed to a bar for drinks.  We had a hell of a time trying to find the bar, until we realized it was inside the hotel we'd passed multiple times.  *facepalm*

We chatted with the older man sitting beside us, who was originally from Raleigh.  He explained there was a special lawyer convention in town, specifically an elite group of lawyers who worked on cases for disabled and special needs persons.  The 2 guys next to him were part of the group and they also chatted with us.

Eventually, it was time to walk back to the hotel.  When we got back, we found the sheets turned down, truffles and a paper with the next day's weather on it, and a bottle of chilled champagne and a card congratulating us on our recent achievements (they had asked if we were celebrating anything when we checked in and I said a green card and scholarship).

After changing into walking shoes, we headed to Willow, then to the USS Yorktown for our ghost tour.  Teh German had said that he'd always wanted to do it, I didn't even know the Yorktown had a ghost tour.  Nonetheless, it was pretty cool.

Ghost or shadow???

Dat Bridge.
(PS. I'll be running that beyoch in a month with Teh Running Bestie and Teh PT Wife!)

After our tour, we headed back to the Mansion to enjoy our champagne (valued at $12 per Googly) and truffles and classical music (that we'd left playing since we walked in the room). 

After the CD repeated, it was time to call it a night.  It was after midnight when we finally crawled into bed. 

SATURDAY

We woke up around 8ish on Saturday.  First up on the agenda was bath time in that big ass tub.  After a soak, we showered in the 2 person fancy ass shower, and then we headed to breakfast at Circa 1886, a restaurant I've wanted to go to for a long time.  Granted, breakfast isn't the same as dinner, but breakfast was delicious and it was no issue to personalize the entrees, so we both ended up with pancakes and eggs (no pics because: starving).  Pastries and fruit were the appetizers.

After breakfast, we went back across the street to the hotel and went into the cupola to check out the city view.

Up.

Holy City for all the church spires.

"It's bright but let's take a selfie anyways."

Down.

The garden/tea room.
Afternoon tea was served daily, but we skipped it since we had dinner and we checked out too early.

The port/cognac/fancy dessert beverage station.

The bathroom stuff included a legit sewing kit, loofah, and makeup wipes, cotton balls, and q-tips, plus the standard soap, shampoo, and conditioner.

We checked out of the hotel after breakfast.  On the way to the Yorktown the night before, we'd seen a sign about a reef/saltwater tank expo, and Teh German and I agreed that we'd check it out on Saturday.  We stopped at Metto first, then headed to the Omar Shrine for the expo.

There were so many pretty corals I wanted, but Teh German (and other vendors) said that because our tank is still "cycling" (aka establishing itself), anything I put in the tank would die.  Except for that damn shrimp that is currently rotting inside the tank.  I wish that smell would die.

So, since we couldn't buy coral ($$ saved), I instead went on a sticker mission for the beer fridge.  I also enabled Teh German to purchase this automated system/tracker thing.  Another vendor had talked about it, after I asked what he did with his tanks when he went on travel and he said he had this system.  I am very concerned about what will happen with the tank while we are in Germany in May/June, specifically, after Teh German leaves for Germany.  See?  I DO care about the tank!  HA!

Since we couldn't buy coral, there wasn't really much else to look at, at the event.  So we headed out around 1:15 to our lunch destination: Hall's Chophouse.

Received this achievement when I checked in on Yelp, after checking into Wentworth Mansion, Peninsula Grill, and then Hall's.  #TreatYoSelf

Hall's gave us free champagne since we were celebrating.
I did not drink mine since I'd gotten a hangover from the champagne the night before and because it was gross.

The bison steak with truffle butter that I'd been dreaming about for quite a while was everything I'd dreamed it would be.

After lunch, we enjoyed our beverages at the table, then eventually headed out to do some "window shopping" on King Street.  There were a millionty people (because it was Saturday), no less than 15 different bachelorette groups with flocks of females just straggling down the street and on their phones and clucking away, and it was hot (~80°F) and I was dressed in long sleeves because I don't know how to dress unless it's cold.

There was some intestinal distress that caused a hijinx in the planned activities, but no one was hurt (i.e. I didn't kill Teh German for taking out his distress on me when we couldn't find a public bathroom).  After 2 pit stops, we agreed to head to the next hotel: 1837 Bed & Breakfast.

Not a mansion, but still cute.  It was cozy where the mansion was luxury.  It was run by a couple who were super friendly.  They also served afternoon tea, but instead of going down to tea, we stayed in the room, relaxing (i.e., me napping, Teh German scrolling, then napping).  We had purchased tickets for a walking ghost tour that included the dungeon for 7:00, so around 6:30, we roused ourselves and headed towards the meeting point for the tour.

The old dungeon is in the lowest level of this building.

The ghost tour was interesting.  Again, we didn't see anything, but we learned some history, which is always fun.  Since we were close, I wanted Kilwin's for dessert.  While we were walking down Market, I noticed a shop that had patents printed on pieces of wood, similar to what Teh Running Bestie had gotten Teh German for his birthday, except his is on metal.

The other thing this shop offered is the letter photos so you can spell words.  For years and years, I've talked about taking the photos to create one of these frames.  So, I gave up on that dream and we purchased the frame and letters to make our name as a Celebratory Treat Yo'Self Weekend Memorabilia.

While we don't actually do projects well together,
we SLAY at making decisions together.
We decided on these letters, mat color, and frame color in less than 10 minutes.
#BoomBitches

Finally, Kilwin's!

We found a place to perch to eat our ice cream, then we walked back to the B&B.  We had some screen time and eventually, it was bedtime, especially since we were losing an hour that night.  Blech.

SUNDAY

Sunday morning, breakfast was served at the B&B.  A delicious quiche that had ham and some veggies and homemade breadcrumbs.  There was also fruit, a homemade bundt cake, and tea/coffee.  We chatted with the owners some about Codfather and how much they loved the place.  After we finished with breakfast, we headed back upstairs to gather our stuff and check out.

We agreed to stop at Metto and then Waterfront Memorial Park in Mount Pleasant before we headed home.

We reminisced about the first time we held hands, at the place we first held hands.

The sun wasn't bearing down on us, so I was kinda chilly since the breeze was.. brisk.  After about 15 minutes of people/bird watching and drinking our coffees, we decided to head home.

Since it was "nice" out (hot if you ask me), I changed when we got home and we took the dogs on a walk.  We ran into Teh Dental Hygienist, Teh AF Maintainer, Baby, and pups, who we chatted with for a while.  We also saw Roux's Humom walking Gracie.  As we approached our house, our across the street neighbors were out with the kids and we chatted with them for a bit.  Cold Hands had come back from church and he was loading his car, so we finally went home and chatted with him for a bit before he headed home.

Meri couldn't decide if she wanted to snuggle or window gaze.

She went with both.

Before I laid down to take a nap, I prepped dinner.  Hoisin chicken in the crockpot.

While I napped, Teh German had screen time.  Eventually, he headed out for a motorcycle ride/beer meet up with some friends.  He was back around 5, since I'd told him that's when dinner would be.  I woke up around the time Teh German left.  I planned the menu for the week (easy peasy since I am not here for most of the week) and talked with Teh Dad and made a grocery order and scooped poop.  When Teh German came home, I was finishing up dinner.

It was weird not being harassed by the dogs at 5:30, but I pointed out to Teh German that in their world, it was still 4:30 and it wasn't their dinner time yet.  I held out until 6:15 on feeding them, just because the longer we feed at 5:30, the more likely it is that we will be harassed before 5:30.

After dinner, we prepped lunch, cleaned up, and then plopped down in front of the TV for episodes of The Office.  At 9:30 we headed upstairs, but my brain was not ready.  I didn't sleep well because fucking time change and because it's hot as balls.  To the point that I set the AC to 72 for the night and turned the fan up.  I still woke up in a damp spot of sweat.  Blech.

______________________________________________

An overwhelmingly good weekend, a much needed staycation/celebration/Husband-Wife weekend.  It was nice getting out of our comfort zone and doing things we've talked about doing one day.  It was also nice celebrating US and the awesomeness that we've achieved and done up to this point.  We also considered this kind of a birthday celebration since we hadn't done anything just us to celebrate OUR birthdays (we usually go out to a fancy dinner and we didn't even do that this year).

Our next adventure will be in June, something European, but it is currently unplanned.  We do have an anniversary party to attend at the beginning of the month, but otherwise, our schedule is clear.

This week is also an adventure:
-I'm headed to Baltimore today for an extended, multi-location slumber party with Teh Running Bestie.  I'll be in Baltimore tonight with Teh Running Bestie and Teh Chief Smartass and the beasties. 
-Wednesday, Teh Running Bestie and I are driving to Pittsburgh.
-Thursday, we see Mumford & Sons.
-Friday, we part ways and I return to Charleston.
-Saturday, I'm running the Rugged Maniac 5k with a gym/school mate.
-Sunday, we have a date with Auntie P.
-Monday, Spring Break is officially over.

At some point, during all that, I need to accomplish homework that is due the week we return from Spring Break, bleh.  In good news, only a little over one month until the Spring 2019 semester ends, after we return from Spring Break!  I'd say the end is near, but I'll spend all of May "in school", June will be travelling/vacation, July is chemistry class, August starts my FINAL YEAR of undergraduate anything.  For forever.  Definitely.  Hard stop.  Period.  EVER.

Prequel to the 3/11 Weekend Review

Some of you may have noticed that I was MIA on Friday.  Some of you maybe didn't.  It's fine, my feelings aren't hurt.  Either way, I wasn't around and my normal Friday post wasn't drafted, so crickets from me.

But this post is to provide some explanation for the post you will see tomorrow.

From last week:
Gentle Readers... this last month has been a fucking roller coaster.  Like, from birthday festivities, to running, to drama between Teh German and I, to the midterm slam at school (homework in every class compared to homework in maybe 3 classes), to incessant stupid shit at work because FORMS (I wish I was kidding), to hurting all over because running+massage+working out... and it was weighing on me in an oppressive way that meant taking a lexapro to sleep.. To the point, I gave myself a stress neck rash (this is not the first time in my life that this has happened to me).

I was gritting my teeth and bearing it.  I can do this.  I've ridden this ride before.  I know this cycle well.  I am burnt out and a break is on the horizon but it's so far away.  And there are so many things in a hold pattern than I'm waiting to fall into place.. which feels like a constant state, but sometimes those things I'm waiting on are HUGE and sometimes not so much... but this time, those things are HUGE and that means anxiety and stress and an oppressive weight that feels like it's crushing me.

See image for accurate depiction:

And, finally, this last week, I started to see the light.  My patient digging finally coming to fruition.  But Tuesday.. Tuesday I finally made a break in the rubble and popped my head out from under the pile.

Homework was plodded through and got accomplished with the help of partners and professors.
A green card was printed and put in the mail.. and received.
A scholarship was received.
The Laundry Fairy even came to visit (despite warnings that she'd went on Spring Break early).

It was the kind of day that makes you question why you ever thought it was a shit week/month.  It was the kind of day that took the top half of the rock pile off my shoulders.  It was the kind of day that makes you grateful for every struggle.  It was the kind of day that makes you realize, your prayers were heard, even if they were quick mumbles and sometimes in jest (but really, Jesus, take the wheel is something I say so frequently, it is a real prayer at this point).  The kind of day you worry about telling people about, because what if you jinx yourself?  The kind of day that is actually completely unbelievable that it happened to YOU.

But, it did.

Teh German's green card is in the mail.  IT IS ON IT'S WAY TO OUR HOUSE.  TO BE IN HIS HANDS.  A process he's been working on since last April.  Teh German's green card has ARRIVED.  I've held it in my hands.  I've never seen him more relieved/excited than when he held that card in his hands.  It's a moment I will remember.  I wish I could have gotten a photo.

I received a scholarship for my study abroad this summer.. a $6000 scholarship!  I was maybe expecting a $1000 scholarship, maybe.  But $6000?!  I happy cried.  This means no needing to take an online class while I'm in Germany, for the GI Bill money.  It means getting to completely let myself study abroad without flexing my work hours or having to take an online class for the money.  It means I'm 100% getting to do the study abroad I've dreamed about doing for my ENTIRE life and I will not be pulled in 100 different directions.. which will kinda be like a vacation for me, lol.

Later in the week, when I signed the award letter, I discovered the scholarship was for up to $6000, which is definitely different than actual $6000.  This was disappointing.  I'm still not sure how much I'll be getting exactly, but I also applied for German scholarships.  I know in the end, this will all wash out, but the meantime is stressful.

So the roller coaster analogy?  100% accurate.

That said.. when you see the weekend review, now you'll understand..

Final note: It is now officially spring break and really the most pressing thing on my mind is getting homework done so I don't have to worry about it.  May 2020 cannot come soon enough.

Save the Light Half Marathon & 5K

From the website:

"A half marathon and 5K to support the preservation of the Morris Island Lighthouse by Save the Light, Inc., a grassroots non-profit organization that formed in 2000 to save the Morris Island Lighthouse from being lost to the sea. Both races are USATF-certified and start and finish near the Folly Beach Pier. Half Marathon is a run only event. The 5K is open to runners and walkers."

I was not looking forward to this race.  The course map looked boring AF.  I was still sore from the 15k the weekend before and 1 day at the gym during the week.  But, I prevailed.

Pre-Race

Packet pick up was not applicable.  Pre-race packet pick was offered on Friday night at Tides Hotel from 4-7pm.  Places I'm not interested in being on a Friday night at that time?  Folly Beach.  Packet pickup was also offered the morning of the race, so I opted to get there early and pick up my packet then.  Packet pick up on race day was simple enough, show ID, get bib, get stuff (except I didn't get my stuff), done.

It was good that I didn't go to packet pick up on Friday night.  Since I had registered "too late" to guarantee a shirt, I didn't receive one. I asked if I could get a shirt in a different size, they said they weren't allowed.  Several people commented on this situation on the event page, but CHS P&R (Charleston Parks and Recreation), who put on the race, didn't seem to care.  Their suggestion was to go up after the race and see if there were shirts available.  I did that.  They had already packed everything away.  There was a lot of rage because of the situation and because I'd lumbered my sore, barely functioning body up the stairs to check and they weren't even there.

Communication was nonexistent.  There were no emails.  ALL event info was on the website and that was that.  There weren't even any updates on the FB event page.  I did ask on the event page if anyone had received any pre-race communication and CHS P&R referred me to the website.  I was looking for parking info.  There was none.

Race Info was meh. The bare essentials were on their website.  Period.

The Race

Parking wasn't an issue when I arrived at Tides Hotel at 0700.  In fact, because the parking attendant hadn't set up yet, I didn't even have to pay, but I have no idea where everyone else parked.  Even for a small race (751 participants per the finishing results), parking was probably a nightmare.  There is limited parking on Folly Beach anyways and 99% of legal parking is pay-to-park.  Essentially, I got super lucky.

Amenities.  The Tides Hotel seemed to be the base of operations for the race.  There were bathrooms in the hotel that most people were using.  There were a few porta potties near the start, but most people were opting for indoor plumbing perks.  The hotel being at the start line also meant that there was an indoor space to hangout before the race.  It wasn't super cold the morning of the race, but it was cold per Charleston standards, so most people stayed inside until it was time for the race to start.

Start Line.  I don't recall the National Anthem, but I may have missed it.  I took a pre-race nap in the backseat before the race and then went to pee in the hotel, then came outside to attach my bib and do some stretching and walk the 1000 feet to the start line and waited less than 5 minutes before the race started.  This was ideal for me.

Race Course.  I wasn't wrong about the course being boring, but it wasn't as bad as the 15k the weekend before.  We did a loop, which actually ended up being pretty cool because the fun stuff I'd seen on the first pass, I was able to stop and take a photo of/with during the 2nd pass.  That said, running a half marathon takes more time than running a 5k (who knew), and as it got later and later, there were more and more vehicles on the course.  AGAIN, VEHICLES ON THE COURSE!  So much rage.  I hate competing with vehicles during a race.  I had zero fucks when there would be a vehicle behind me and I was running in the middle of the road (where the slant of the road is the most minimal because my hips and IT bands already hate me and I try not to exacerbate that more than I need to).  I did almost get hit by a truck mirror when they passed me and I would have guaranteed that person would have regretted hitting me, had that happened.  I'm crazy enough to run a half marathon and the street they were on was a dead end.  I WOULD FIND THEM.  That didn't happen, so they were lucky.

Either an NJROTC group or baby Nukes (Navy sailors) were the course "proctors".  They were awesome.  They didn't just stand around on their phones.  They would interact with the runners and there was one dude being super silly and dancing.  These small things are huge when you're running long distances, because it breaks up the miles, and that is always welcome.

Finish Line/End of the Race. The finish line was near where we had started and it was clearly marked.  There were spectators around the finish chute who were cheering finishers on, which was a delight. That said, my least favorite part of the race was sprinting across the finish line, then his little older lady stopping me so she could rip something off of my bib.  Lady, I just ran most of 13 miles.  I need to walk this out and standing here is NOT doing that.  Once she finally got the tiny tab ripped from my bib, I was handed a medal and then was out of the chute.  There were trays of apples and oranges and coolers of Gatorade and water that you could help yourself too.  I liked this, but I would have liked some type of bread, but the apples were a nice offering.

The Race

Would I do this race again?  Maybe.  I don't think the course would change and the medal was super simple, which would not really appeal to me.  This is probably a one and done type of race.  It is local though, so I could be tempted.

Etc Photos

Weekend Review {03/04}

FRIDAY

After work and school, I grabbed lunch, headed home to pack, took a quick nap (since I was driving later), and then Teh PT Wife and I were off to Myrtle Beach.  We arrived around 4ish and hung out with Teh MB Stylist and Huddy-Wuddy.  Eventually, we decided on a dinner location and planned to swing by the race expo to pick up our packets before dinner.

At the expo, we picked up energy gels and some stickers, I got some new sunglasses, a pair of socks, and we both grabbed knee braces to see if it would help with our aches.  We headed to Bimini's, a seafood place, for dinner, which was maybe not my best pre-race dinner idea, but faaaaccckk dem crab legs and skrimpies were derrrrrichious.  I am now a professional crab leg cracker after the waitress cracked almost an entire cluster of crab legs for me and laid the meat out for me to eat, which was simultaneously kinda gross (because I know she (prob) hadn't washed her hands before she started messing with my food) and kinda awesome because picking crab legs is tedious AF.  I say I'm a professional because I watched her while she was giving us directions and I got out no less than 5 HUGE CHUNKS of crab meat!  #WIN

After overeating a millionty lbs of crab legs and shrimpies and hushpuppies it was time to head home.  I hadn't slept well the night before, so I was tired, despite my quick nap.  After a quick Skype session with Teh German, it was sleepy time.

SATURDAY

Saturday morning started at 0535 since it was race day!  Thankfully, traffic was not an issue in any way.  We got parked, got ourselves together, and headed to the start line.  It was Teh PT Wife's first half marathon.  We already knew we wouldn't run together, so we parted ways at the start line.

I'll be completely honest.  We signed up to run the Myrtle Beach half because of the medal.  Specifically, the Bless Your Heart challenge medal participants got for running both a Charleston Marathon weekend race and a MB Marathon weekend race.  We could have ran 5k for both races, but again.. the medal for the half was better than the 5k, soooo we did the half.  Specifically, the half medal was larger and had glitter, which the 5k medal didn't have.  Also, traveling 2 hours for a 5k is probably against something I believe in.

The race was boring, IMO.  We ran down the main tourist roads and through a new housing development/community.  That said, the course was flat, except for a "South Carolina hill" around mile 11.5 that definitely made me cuss.  It was barely an incline, but after no inclines at all.. it was a struggle.

I was kind of trying to come in under 2:20, but I gassed myself too soon at the end.  Part of the reason was that I had to chase down a lady wearing a Space Jam tank top so I could take a photo to send to Teh Sister.  The other part was the hill.  The remaining part was that I started going too fast too far from the finish line.  #YOLO.

Final time: 2:21:48, making MB half my 3rd fastest half marathon to date.  WOOT!
First half marathon (Sep 2014): 2:11:39
Sweet Tea Half (Nov 2015): 2:16:52
MB Half (Mar 2019): 2:21:48
Save the Light Half (Feb 2019): 2:26:22
Kiawah Half (Dec 2018): 2:27:38
(These are my RunKeeper times, which are a little off compared to the actual chip time since I don't always turn off my trackers until well after I've crossed the finish line).

1. Start line selfie!
2. #BookHunter
3. I'm going in the direction I'm pointing.  If you look at the flags, the wind is blowing them the opposite way.
We call that a headwind... and headwinds fucking suck after you've been running for 10+ miles.
4. Finish line KK and water.  Kthx.

Run stats.
Selfie with Teh Running Bestie who was supposed to run with us, but didn't make it due to life.
Post-race celebratory photos!

1. MEDALS!
2. Post-race exhaustion.
3. Coozies are good for keeping medals from clanking together.

I was pleased with myself.  Still under 2:30, which is my loose self-requirement.
Teh PT Wife came in at 2:53, which is awesome!  I still am so excited for her.  I waited for her at the finish chute and took photos to mark the event.  After the race, we grabbed our Bless Your Heart medals, grab a snack, checked out the vendors, then made our way back to Willow.  We went to brunch at a place I can't remember the name of.  I know that we ordered what seemed like an obscene amount of food, but IDGAF.

After foods, we headed back to Teh MB Stylist's house for showers and then we hit the road back to Charleston.  When I got home, I took my post-race nap since I was really struggling at life.  When I woke up, I hung my medals and then I gave Teh German 3 options for dinner: Mex 1, Home Team, or Lewis BBQ.

We got ready and headed out and there was some drama after I announced that my credit card was MIA.  We managed to get through that debacle by the time we made it to... Mex 1.

No food pics because hunger and our food took for fucking ever for some strange reason.  Just suffice to say that I did a substitution version of a "make your own quesadilla" and it was worth it.  After we got home, we watched an episode of The Office and then it was bedtime.

SUNDAY

Sunday funday included: house projects, homework, fish tank maintenance/tasks.  Teh German put hooks on both 9 pane windows we used as wedding decorations and hung the one in the downstairs bathroom.  A 2020 goal is to get photos printed for the panes.  Look at me being realistic.  A 2019 goal is to clean the windows.. again.

I did homework all the day long, until 3:30ish when I finally went upstairs and showered since there was a GLCK Mardi Gras gathering at a neighbor's house at 4.

While I waited on Teh German to get ready, this fuzzball and I snuggled.

We ate and socialized and endured a very summer-esque storm and then we headed home around 6:30 since the beasts still needed to be fed.  I had driven because sore legs and I was glad when I came outside and it was still drizzling. 

After the beasts were taken care of, I did one more German worksheet while Teh German took care of Teh German Time.  After, we watched several episodes of The Office.  Michael has officially departed Dunder-Mifflin and I cried when they sang the Seasons of Love parody.  I've either become a real sap in my old age or this is PMS... or quite possibly a combination of both.

Then it was bedtime.

______________________________________________

Drama aside, it was a great weekend.  I got my 3rd best half marathon time and Teh PT Wife completed her first half marathon!  We're awesome.  Teh MB Stylist will be mailing my credit card back to me.  My sore pieces will eventually not be so sore anymore... one day.  I had a massage appt at 9 this morning that helped SOO much.  Then Teh Chiro got all the pops out.  For real, probably one of the best ways to start the day/week.

This week is the week before spring break at school, and it's pretty miserable, TBH.  Metric shit tons of homework, a midterm on Thursday in the class I failed last summer (Data Algorithms), German essay, blah blah blah.  But then it's a WEEK off of school.  Of course that week is packed with activities already.  I did take time out of my homework time to draft this.. but ya know.. Sacrifices.

Teh German and I are possibly going away this weekend and next week Teh Running Bestie and I will be venturing to Pittsburgh to see Mumford & Sons.  SQUEEEE!!!

MOST IMPORTANTLY....
March 7th (Thursday) is Mer-Mer's Gotcha Day.  She'll be receiving some stashed toys and lots of snuggles and maybe some extra treats.  This year marks 5 years since Meri and I have been together.  By the time her birthday rolls around, she will be the dog who has lived with me the longest of all my adult-owned dogs.  Phil currently holds the record, but he got to 5 years 2 months.  I refuse to allow Meri to be with me less time than that.  PERIOD.  Meri will be 6 in September.  So we've got time.

Send positive thoughts for my mental capacity this weekend, Gentle Readers.
More than you know... I need it for more reasons than just enduring school.  Sorry for the Vaguebooking, but it is what it is.

Five on Friday #185

EINS - Random Shit

-I had to go to Summerville to sign our taxes this week.  Just so happens that a Nothin' Bundt Cakes was on my way home.  I stopped in to get at least one "bundtlet" (a mini/personal size bundt cake) and I could smell the raspberry cakes they were cooking AND they had samples of it.. soooo I came home with a lemon and a white chocolate raspberry and I had ZERO RAGRATS.

-No new plans made on the German front yet.  Life this week included prioritizing lazy time and spending time with Teh German since his birthday was Tuesday.

-Thankfully, Teh German came home from work on Tuesday and had a change of heart about staying in.  We went to Famulari's at Cane Bay (which was a mistake since they really aren't that good, but it took us half the time to get there as our favorite location), then on the way home we stopped at Walmart for some things.  I pointed out to Teh German that when you enjoy looking through the home improvement section as part of your birthday "celebration" you really might be in your 30's.

-Yesterday I saw someone get t-boned because stopped traffic was letting someone turn left and the person in the right lane didn't realize since traffic was stopped and their lane was clear.  Thankfully, no one was in the passenger seat, but it definitely wasn't my favorite way to start the morning.  Also thankfully, there was an unmarked cop in traffic several cars back, so he heard the noise and flipped on the siren and lights and attended the scene.  Finally, thankfully, both cars were able to pull off into the McDonald's parking lot, so there was no traffic backup.

-It really it a poor life choice to tell yourself you'll get gas on your way into whatever you do in the AM.  And that's exactly what I did to myself.  So Thursday, I was already running late, I stopped to pick up breakfast because I hadn't properly planned, saw the accident, then still had to get gas, eat my breakfast, and make it to class on time.  Just in case, I messaged my professor on Slack to tell him I might be late.  I walked in a 0928, 2 minutes before class started.  #LikeABoss

-I, generally, look at my homework as soon as it is assigned.  I 100% definitely DO NOT wait to look at the homework until the night before or the day of and then proceed to ask the person who asked me 2+ weeks ago if I'd looked at the homework yet because they needed help, for help.  But that is exactly what 2 of my classmates did to me on Thursday morning.

Look here, Bro.  IDGAF about your inability to plan properly.  I wanted to do this fucking homework 2 weeks ago, but none of you fuckers took the time to even look at it to start to help me, so fuck you.  I did sit down with another classmate and worked on it a few days before it was due and we hammered it out with relative easy, assisting each other when we struggled.  It was delightful.  I was willing to do that with anyone, but noooo.  And then for one of the persons who asked me for help 3 hours before it was due got an attitude with me because I didn't help them... THEN he asked if I wanted to be his partner for the final project?  Uhhh, wut?  How about, FUCK NO.

-I was tagged in a FB post, asking if I was located near the area of the event in the post, which took place in Wake Forest, NC.  I explained that I live in Charleston, SC, not Raleigh.  Poster said they were confused.  I explained that I used to live in Raleigh, but no while we'd been friends.  No harm, no foul.  Then a 3rd party, with probable good intentions, chimed in, "Even those of us who live in the Carolinas get confused."  Ummm... speak fo' yo'self.  I do not get confused about these things.

-After more debacle and calls, mostly ME calling.. still nothing on the hot flashes prescription being free.  In fact, when I called the insurance prescription company this morning, I was informed there was no way that my prescription (Lo Loestrin) would be $0 cost.  That said, the customer service rep gave me a "correct" fax number for the doc to send a "PA" to...  after 2 calls to the doc this morning, the 2nd one when my nurse sent my call to her voicemail instead of speaking to me, I'm sure I'll be making calls for the rest of my fucking life about this garbage.  I REFUSE to pay $300 for a month of birth control pills.

Also, fun story from last weekend when I called the insurance company for this issue and the 1st time, I was speaking with someone who hung up on me and I was redirected to the main menu and had to start the process over.. then the 2nd person's "computer was updating, 'Can I call you back in 30 minutes?'" and they never called back.  So to say I'm over this shit is an understatement.  Add to the fact that my doc's nurse refuses to communicate with me in any way, responding to my emails, returning my calls, telling me to fuck off, I'm really struggling to maintain my "nice Megan" facade.

-Spring break is only ONE WEEK AWAY.  I only have to survive one more week of school and 1 midterm.  I can do this.  Then it's no school and Pittsburgh time to see Mumford & Sons.  Also, I have a ticket for sale if anyone is interested.  I know it's a long shot, but otherwise it's $100 wasted.

-I dislike being honest sometimes... Like when Teh German asked me this morning why I said something the way I did, not really because I said something in a particular way, but because he knows that something is going on and it's his way of asking what is wrong... and I admitted that I am irritated at him.  This is particularly douchey of me because 1- He had a long day and it wasn't that big of a deal, but it was to me.  2- I wasn't in the best of moods because I didn't get enough sleep.  3- We aren't going to see each other tonight.

Yesterday Teh German had to fly to NJ for a work meeting, so he was up at 0415 (which meant, so was I) then he left at 0445 (which meant he woke me up when he bumped me in the face to kiss me goodbye), then he got home at 9pm.  I was on the couch watching Grace and Frankie and I paused it to ask him how everything had went and we talked about his day for a bit.  Then he plopped down on the couch and I waited a few minutes, then un-paused my episode.  He didn't seem ready to go to bed, so we watched an episode of The Office, then it was bedtime.  The entire time, Teh German was on his phone, scrolling.  I knew he hadn't asked me about my day, but I also knew he had a long day and didn't want to put that on him.  Also, I always just blurt out everything.  I'm not the queen of mystery in anyway, so sometimes, it's nice to be asked about things, which, to me, expresses an interest.

By the time we went to bed, after laying in bed, more scrolling... I was pretty pissed.  I slept like shit.  So I admitted to Teh German I was irritated because he didn't bother to ask about my day after he got home.. instead, he spent time on his phone scrolling, which, I pointed out, was how he had spent the majority of his time at the airport.  There's nothing to be done for it after the fact, but I didn't even get an apology (not a surprise), so I'm in all kinds of feels and I hate it.  I also hate that he probably thinks I was trying to make him feel bad, which I wasn't, I was just trying to explain my feelings.  Considering Teh German doesn't tell me about his feelings, I shouldn't feel bad, since I am only assuming he feels bad.  IDK.  I'm tired of emotional constipation and having to hold it all together all the time.

I'm exhausted, Gentle Readers.  I'm emotionally and mentally drained..  I miss intimacy.  Not sex.  Intimacy.  And I also miss deep communication.  Not day to day dribble, but feelings and thoughts, communication of substance, which feeds into intimacy.

I'll end with this.
There's 2 hard things about marriage.
1- name change.  fuck that. don't ever do it.  Trust me.
2- Communication of substance.  It takes effort.  Effort is hard when day-to-day is hard.

ZWEI - Money Shit

-Chegg subscription.  Don't judge me.
-Vacuum filters for Roomy and the Shark.
-Groceries/house things
-Groupon for pizza since Teh German picked a place that had a Groupon for his birthday.
-Bojangles breakfast x2 this week.  That means 2 days of forgetting to thaw my breakfast sammich. Booooooooo/yay.
-2 bundt cakes from Nothin' Bundt Cakes
-Gas

DREI - From My Phone Shit

Teh German bought this "damaged" sign at the Beer Festival event.
I won't lie.  It's pretty cool.  Even if it's more than I would have paid.

The trifecta of perfect toilet:
seat up (unused), water blue (recently cleaned), automatic flushing.

The Cleaners left us a caterpillar surprise.
Definitely made me lol.

This keeps happening and my computer is barely a month old.
I should take it back, but faaaaccckkkkkkkk.

Look.  I used this fucking thing.  I still hate it.
I (over)steamed broccoli.

After being super frustrated regarding a printer situation that was resolved by simply resetting the router (after I'd been unsuccessfully troubleshooting for 45 minutes), this paper cut was the straw that broke the camel's back.

The next day... this happened.
Of course it fucked up the rings and now I have to buy a new binder.
Add to my rage list: .this.

When Husband isn't home for dinner.
#NotSorry

2 bitches chillin.

💗💛💚💙💜

What is the playing surface of the New Orleans Superdome called?
Mardi grass.

VIER - From the Internet Shit

If the hangers in your closet look like this, you are an animal.
I cannot.
CAN NOT.

FÜNF - Things that made me happy this week

1. Teh German had to go on travel this week, but it was just a day trip, not an overnight trip.
2. Nothin' Bundt Cakes and free samples.
3. Completing the taxes stuff this year and the accountant billing me via Venmo.  Lawd, I love when people use technology.  Although, he totally could have used better emojis.
4. Going out for Teh German's birthday.  He didn't want to celebrate over the weekend and I didn't really like that.
5. The only homework I had to do this week during the evening was print something out.  Granted, that was more painful than the actual assignment....
6. Finding shows on Netflix I want to watch.  One day.  When school is no longer in my life.
7. Not getting a parking ticket when I was parked in a not-parking space.  I really hate when there are events on campus and normal shitty parking is even shittier.
8. A $150 bonus for good work I've done for one of my projects.  I didn't know one of my PMs had put me up for it.  Apparently, he fought for 3 months to get it for me.  I was super appreciative.  Especially considering that it was in the same year that I got written up (for invalid reasons)...
9. Not going to this gym after Monday.  My wrist was hurting from last week and Monday made my legs hurts and I have a half on Saturday.  Not going to the gym meant accomplishing other things and resting for my run.
10. This song:

Happy Friday, Gentle Readers.