Because 73 does not feel like spring. Or March. And it's lovely outside but in my office it's a hotbox and I am so cranky. Also I'm bored because I'm really caught up here and I have read all of the internet today!
Things are going well. Sometimes I still feel stressed about what's left to do at home (I guess because I have busy weeknights this week), but it's really in fine shape. We still have to go to Ikea for bedroom furniture, and it may get a little crowded in there but it'll fit, and I need the living room curtains to arrive and I have to decorate with photos and stuff a little more, but it's almost there. Somehow it seems like I need to clean the floors every other day, but I think this weekend I'll do a big vacuum/mop/scrub to the floors (there are some spots behind the radiator that no one should ever have to see) and then spot mop for another week or two until I do that again. It seems to collect dust more than my last apartment for some reason, but it's a boy with boy hairs and the Target reviews online did say the new towels were "linty," so what can you do. Oh, and I need to figure out how to clean off old grease spots on the stove and the stove hood. (PEOPLE ARE DISGUSTING.) I've tried all of my cleaning products and elbow grease and there's still some that won't budge. Any cleaning hints would be appreciated!
I had a fun weekend of Homeland marathon and Greek food at home with Hike on Friday, helping Schmillie look at Astoria apartments on Saturday then the girlfriends came over for some drinks at my place (my first in-person visitors!) and then we went out for St. Patty's and I got very drunk. Which was very fun, but I also managed to pull something in my back (it's been sensitive with all the moving/cleaning/lifting I've been doing, and I just pushed it too far somehow), so the past few days have been painful but it seems mostly better today, finally. Sunday I slept, laid around, and ate Chinese food. And then last night I cooked Five Alarm Chili for us and for Harpie dinner, which will be tomorrow night. Our theme is our astrological signs, so I had to make an appetizer that represented my Sagittariusness, so I figured the chili would work for my fire sign that loves travel and adventure (it's got Mexican flavors) as well as curiosity, since I sort of made it up as I went with some scant guidance as far as ingredients. I'm going to serve it in small portions in little corn tortilla cups (if those work when I bake them in a muffin tin tonight) and just some cheese and crema and green onion on top. I'm pumped! Plus we'll be eating a few meals out of the pot, too, so it was worth the effort. I put laundry off until Thursday, since tonight I get my haircut (and I'm super excited about it though I'm not doing anything different), and tomorrow night I'll be with my fellow zodiacs.
I took out my cartilage earring on Sunday, too! It had been suddenly bothering me lately when I slept on that side (I think it was rubbing the strap from my eye mask), and then I was thinking it's probably time I moved on from that look anyway, as I am 30 and it didn't mean much to me anymore. I'd had it for 10 years! So it's out, and I have the hole still but it'll hopefully close up. It's not noticeable anyway. Besides I still have three holes in my left earlobe, so I'm not too square. I feel the same, guys.
Um, Hike still hasn't slept at home. It just never seems like the right time! He'll be done with class late and then I want to feed him and then we're both tired and he doesn't want to have to schlep his stuff home, and so whatever, we'll see how this plays out. I don't want to worry about it.
OH I FORGOT THE MOST EXCITING PART. Schmillie found a very cute, quirky, HER apartment on Saturday and she just found out today that she got it. It's like less than 10 minutes from my apartment! It's going to be great! She has always lived an hour away (at least) so this will be so fun to have a new neighborhood friend and I'm so going to push the "drop-by" neighbor type of relationship. That would make me very happy. (Just like Friends, right?) Now we just need some male friends in the area to balance things out.
In weight news, I am feeling slimmer and my clothes are fitting more loosely, though I tried to weigh myself this morning and it hadn't moved, which was confusing. I blame my slopey bathroom floor. Also I'm sure I've been burning calories with all of the cleaning and stuff, so maybe I added muscle weight? Anyway, I feel good so I just have to keep eating fairly well and enjoying myself. I definitely need to lower my stress/anxiety levels, so let's just relax and let it happen, right? :) Ha, I'll try. OH CRAP but I do have to be in a swimsuit in a month for Schmate's Bachelorette Trip to Miami...but with all girls, I suppose, so it's not as nerve wracking.
SUMMER IS HERE, basically. We only had one good snowstorm! I'm grieving the winter that never was.
Showing posts with label weekend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weekend. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Emerging Like a Butterfly
And I'm back. Whew, the move was crazy. Well, the actual move was great and smooth and only took 2 1/2 hours, but then Time Warner didn't show, one of the new apartment's windows wouldn't stay closed, and an outlet didn't work. After a lot of bother, this was all resolved last Tuesday. I stayed home from work and the contractors came in the morning to fix all the windows (they lock now, too!) and the outlet and then TW came later on. It was very productive. OH and I was in great shape the Friday night before the move, so Hike and I drove to Ikea on LI and bought the couch, so they delivered it on Sunday night. It made the weekend a lot easier to not have to plan around an Ikea trip on Sunday.
It's been frustrating that while the new place appeared relatively clean, it was obvious that the previous tenants weren't that clean, so I had to wipe down all the shelves before putting anything on them, and really scrub the shit out of the top of the kitchen cabinets and the bathroom (lots of bleach there). I mean, I'm happy to have it clean to start with, but it's taking longer and it's a lot of work. The past two weekends I've pushed myself pretty hard, but finally I can sort of see the end of the to-do list. Last night I did a ton of laundry, which was our regular stuff plus all the rags and the old towels and the new towels (so we could use them) and one of the new floor mats and the living room pillow covers, etc. Tonight I need to clean up the kitchen table area, which has been sort of my junk area while I straightened everything else, and I need to put the bathroom together with the right shower liner length/width (cross your fingers, this is my fourth try), but maybe I can be sort of done after that? Or at least not work so hard for a few days. We'll still have to hang any decorations and buy bedroom furniture, but things will slow down.
I am really having fun using my new kitchen stuff and having pretty bathroom stuff and all that. I realize these are things people usually register for, but I needed some of it now, and some of it I just decided that I have the extra money for and I want to live like a grown-up, you know? I've been pretty frugal for a long time, so I'm allowed to have nice dishes (that I got on clearance) or whatever. I can't wait for someone to come visit me now! No one's seen it yet, though only recently would I have even wanted them to. Still, it definitely feels like home. It's just so comfortable to have my/our own place. Well, it's ours and he's been there every night, but I think I should insist on at least one night a week alone, right? It's only fair, since he hasn't officially moved in (or paid rent yet). But the co-habitation has been pretty peaceful and nice, once things settled down from the move. For a few days it was rough -- I was all business and he was gone, then would come home and need to "relax" and I'd get really angry that he wasn't doing more or anticipating what needed to be done, but that phase has mostly passed, and he was helpful when I directly asked him to do something. Now it's nice to know that even when I work hard all day (office work then house work and cooking dinner) I will be able to fall asleep with my head on his chest while he plays with my hair. It's those little things.
I've been so focused on the settling in that I now feel like I'm emerging from a cave or something, and I'm excited to get back to a normal life. It was actually a quiet few weeks socially, which worked out well for me to hole up. This past weekend we did have some friend time on Friday night (his friends who I enjoy very much) and then family time on Saturday night (Zipcar!), and I'm starting to re-assimilate into society again, thank goodness. Plus this warm weather is making me want to sit outside and brunch or drink or drunch!
Next time I'll tell you about our pet adventures (or at least in theory -- we don't really have one yet.) Let's just say I'm starting to have very warm feelings about a pigeon.
It's been frustrating that while the new place appeared relatively clean, it was obvious that the previous tenants weren't that clean, so I had to wipe down all the shelves before putting anything on them, and really scrub the shit out of the top of the kitchen cabinets and the bathroom (lots of bleach there). I mean, I'm happy to have it clean to start with, but it's taking longer and it's a lot of work. The past two weekends I've pushed myself pretty hard, but finally I can sort of see the end of the to-do list. Last night I did a ton of laundry, which was our regular stuff plus all the rags and the old towels and the new towels (so we could use them) and one of the new floor mats and the living room pillow covers, etc. Tonight I need to clean up the kitchen table area, which has been sort of my junk area while I straightened everything else, and I need to put the bathroom together with the right shower liner length/width (cross your fingers, this is my fourth try), but maybe I can be sort of done after that? Or at least not work so hard for a few days. We'll still have to hang any decorations and buy bedroom furniture, but things will slow down.
I am really having fun using my new kitchen stuff and having pretty bathroom stuff and all that. I realize these are things people usually register for, but I needed some of it now, and some of it I just decided that I have the extra money for and I want to live like a grown-up, you know? I've been pretty frugal for a long time, so I'm allowed to have nice dishes (that I got on clearance) or whatever. I can't wait for someone to come visit me now! No one's seen it yet, though only recently would I have even wanted them to. Still, it definitely feels like home. It's just so comfortable to have my/our own place. Well, it's ours and he's been there every night, but I think I should insist on at least one night a week alone, right? It's only fair, since he hasn't officially moved in (or paid rent yet). But the co-habitation has been pretty peaceful and nice, once things settled down from the move. For a few days it was rough -- I was all business and he was gone, then would come home and need to "relax" and I'd get really angry that he wasn't doing more or anticipating what needed to be done, but that phase has mostly passed, and he was helpful when I directly asked him to do something. Now it's nice to know that even when I work hard all day (office work then house work and cooking dinner) I will be able to fall asleep with my head on his chest while he plays with my hair. It's those little things.
I've been so focused on the settling in that I now feel like I'm emerging from a cave or something, and I'm excited to get back to a normal life. It was actually a quiet few weeks socially, which worked out well for me to hole up. This past weekend we did have some friend time on Friday night (his friends who I enjoy very much) and then family time on Saturday night (Zipcar!), and I'm starting to re-assimilate into society again, thank goodness. Plus this warm weather is making me want to sit outside and brunch or drink or drunch!
Next time I'll tell you about our pet adventures (or at least in theory -- we don't really have one yet.) Let's just say I'm starting to have very warm feelings about a pigeon.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Things
Shmauren is visiting this weekend from Boston! Tonight we're meeting at Sweet Afton in Astoria to catch up, meet her new (to us) beau, and bring all the boys along. Tomorrow night there are more festivities planned in Manhattan at some of our favorite old haunts, and I wasn't sure if I could go due to packing plans, but I think I'm in decent shape so after putting some time in during the day, I should be able to head out again. Hike will probably stay home to study tomorrow, but that's fiiine. Girl time-ish! And then I can go home sort of early (maybe?) and see him later in the evening. Exciting! I think Sunday is unplanned, so probably I'll be packing and maybe we'll see some family -- tbd.
So everything worked out OK with the car, though it is totaled. He is going to get a nice settlement check from the insurance company and bank that puppy, so we'll sign up for Zipcar for the foreseeable future. We don't need the car too often -- mostly for trips to LI to see the family and the rare weekends away, so Zipcar makes more sense economically right now. Plus, how fun to try a different car each time! And it looks like we'll still have the insurance-covered rental through next weekend, so I can use the car to move with (thank god.) I was very worried about that, since I plan to drive over some fragile things, all my hanging clothes, and drive over to meet the movers on the other end and let them in.
I've packed a few boxes each weeknight this week, except for last night which was book club. (We Talked About Kevin a lot.) I'm nearly to the point where I can't pack more until a day or two before we go, so that's under control. I was a little nervous because we're having issues setting up Time Warner since the current tenants' hadn't cancelled it, and now they have but for Feb 29 (they're supposed to leave tomorrow?) so we can't officially put in our order until then, which means we may not get an installation as early as we wanted, but OH WELL. I mean, I'm annoyed, but at this point it's not worth worrying about. If I have to miss some work, I will -- especially since I'm not taking any time off to move.
I should be low-stress, which I am, part of the time. I'm also just super excited to go! Oh, last weekend (I will get into that shortly) I had a few moments of trepidation and wondering if I was doing the right thing, but as soon as we got back home, the roommate was up to her usual nagging, moving my stuff around in the shower, laughing obnoxiously at everything on tv, etc., so I was like GET ME OUTTA HEEEERE. It's so time.
The weekend in Amish Country was nice! Very rural and relaxing. We got in on Saturday afternoon, and our room had a really nice shower with two shower heads and a fireplace and a canopied bed and a porch swing, and it was nice and cozy. We christened it right away (ahem) then had some snacks in the room (complimentary) then he researched restaurants and I got pretty and we went to a lovely Italian place. We did get into a fight at dinner (as usual) because somehow we cannot talk about the future without fighting now, but it got resolved. It seems when I try to broach the topic of "how can we make this an exciting thing and not a fight fest?" it seems like I am criticizing, and so then he gets mad? I don't really get it. I'm not asking him to propose right now, but I am asking him to stop telling me one timeline and then pushing it back, and also to stop being so MEAN about the thing. Or you know, be more sensitive to the fact that I compromised on living together and I want this to be something to look forward to. Whatever, it seems better since then. Somehow everything I was saying on the topic sounded like pressure to him, which I don't understand. But it's better.
Sunday we drove around the towns and looked at farms and tried to find a market (but the Amish won't sell on a Sunday) and had lunch at an old brewery then did an Amish buggy ride and bought a Christmas ornament souvenir and then went to a fantastic seafood restaurant (go to one if you have one near you!) and then back for some romance. Romance has been tough with his school schedule and our winter blahs and everything lately, so I'm really happy we were all crazy for each other again. PLUS HE'S GOT A NEW TECHNIQUE. I won't elaborate, but it was very thrilling. And then I also had a dream orgasm for the first time! Anyway, it was good. Then Monday we stopped at a few markets and a chocolate store on our way out of town, and we had an uneventful drive home. It was nice to get away, but it went so quickly.
So that's what's going on, folks. Oh, apparently moving in together is a huge deal and he just wants to get through that first (um, meant in a less negative way than that sounded) and I've obviously not given it enough thought because I'm moving in first, anyway, and I'm thinking about all the details of setting up an apartment. But yeah, I need to reflect on stuff like that more instead of being all "next challenge, please!" But really, I'll have time once I'm settled in. And I'm not going to change my mind, but just sort of see the significance or WHATEVER. I do know I'm not ready to be engaged yet, and we're not ready together yet, so I think things are fine as they are right now. I need to stop checking off items on my life to-do list, as always.
Happy weekends!
So everything worked out OK with the car, though it is totaled. He is going to get a nice settlement check from the insurance company and bank that puppy, so we'll sign up for Zipcar for the foreseeable future. We don't need the car too often -- mostly for trips to LI to see the family and the rare weekends away, so Zipcar makes more sense economically right now. Plus, how fun to try a different car each time! And it looks like we'll still have the insurance-covered rental through next weekend, so I can use the car to move with (thank god.) I was very worried about that, since I plan to drive over some fragile things, all my hanging clothes, and drive over to meet the movers on the other end and let them in.
I've packed a few boxes each weeknight this week, except for last night which was book club. (We Talked About Kevin a lot.) I'm nearly to the point where I can't pack more until a day or two before we go, so that's under control. I was a little nervous because we're having issues setting up Time Warner since the current tenants' hadn't cancelled it, and now they have but for Feb 29 (they're supposed to leave tomorrow?) so we can't officially put in our order until then, which means we may not get an installation as early as we wanted, but OH WELL. I mean, I'm annoyed, but at this point it's not worth worrying about. If I have to miss some work, I will -- especially since I'm not taking any time off to move.
I should be low-stress, which I am, part of the time. I'm also just super excited to go! Oh, last weekend (I will get into that shortly) I had a few moments of trepidation and wondering if I was doing the right thing, but as soon as we got back home, the roommate was up to her usual nagging, moving my stuff around in the shower, laughing obnoxiously at everything on tv, etc., so I was like GET ME OUTTA HEEEERE. It's so time.
The weekend in Amish Country was nice! Very rural and relaxing. We got in on Saturday afternoon, and our room had a really nice shower with two shower heads and a fireplace and a canopied bed and a porch swing, and it was nice and cozy. We christened it right away (ahem) then had some snacks in the room (complimentary) then he researched restaurants and I got pretty and we went to a lovely Italian place. We did get into a fight at dinner (as usual) because somehow we cannot talk about the future without fighting now, but it got resolved. It seems when I try to broach the topic of "how can we make this an exciting thing and not a fight fest?" it seems like I am criticizing, and so then he gets mad? I don't really get it. I'm not asking him to propose right now, but I am asking him to stop telling me one timeline and then pushing it back, and also to stop being so MEAN about the thing. Or you know, be more sensitive to the fact that I compromised on living together and I want this to be something to look forward to. Whatever, it seems better since then. Somehow everything I was saying on the topic sounded like pressure to him, which I don't understand. But it's better.
Sunday we drove around the towns and looked at farms and tried to find a market (but the Amish won't sell on a Sunday) and had lunch at an old brewery then did an Amish buggy ride and bought a Christmas ornament souvenir and then went to a fantastic seafood restaurant (go to one if you have one near you!) and then back for some romance. Romance has been tough with his school schedule and our winter blahs and everything lately, so I'm really happy we were all crazy for each other again. PLUS HE'S GOT A NEW TECHNIQUE. I won't elaborate, but it was very thrilling. And then I also had a dream orgasm for the first time! Anyway, it was good. Then Monday we stopped at a few markets and a chocolate store on our way out of town, and we had an uneventful drive home. It was nice to get away, but it went so quickly.
So that's what's going on, folks. Oh, apparently moving in together is a huge deal and he just wants to get through that first (um, meant in a less negative way than that sounded) and I've obviously not given it enough thought because I'm moving in first, anyway, and I'm thinking about all the details of setting up an apartment. But yeah, I need to reflect on stuff like that more instead of being all "next challenge, please!" But really, I'll have time once I'm settled in. And I'm not going to change my mind, but just sort of see the significance or WHATEVER. I do know I'm not ready to be engaged yet, and we're not ready together yet, so I think things are fine as they are right now. I need to stop checking off items on my life to-do list, as always.
Happy weekends!
Friday, February 17, 2012
This Day Needs to End Already
So it's 4:53 pm and I am SO READY for a three-day weekend, especially one that involves traveling to Amish Country tomorrow. I've never been to Amish Country! Plus I love driving in the country, plus I can't wait to get away with my honey (and hopefully get along SPLENDIDLY), plus our room features a porch swing and a fireplace! And apparently a wrought-iron shower gate. Plus it's sunny out and it's so hot in my office that my roses are wilting and god, this was the longest week ever. Hope you all enjoy your weekends! I will bring you back something antique, like a shoe buckle!
Monday, November 14, 2011
So That Happened
My life is full of Famous Last Words, you know? I had so much fun with Schmillie (as well as free shots and new friends) that I was home around 3:00 am on Saturday...ish. (I don't remember, guys.) Which also meant I kept telling Hike all night that I wanted to stay longer, and that maybe I wouldn't be home to cook him dinner, and maybe later again, etc. etc. so finally I was like Yeah, you should sleep at home because this party train is going to be delayed. Which he was mostly fine with, once I called him to check in... I wondered why he had so much 'tude at the time, but to be fair, I do need to be realistic about my "home eta" when I plan these things, as this is not the first time I've done that to him. And as I also discovered the next day, he bought me flowers to surprise me for Friday night and so yeah, he had to wait to give them to me until Saturday night. Oops. But still aww!
So right, I slept in until noon on Saturday, then of course needed Mexican food and had lost my voice by screaming/drinking/smoking so many cigarettes on Friday, so I ordered tacos & enchiladas online. I ate half of the food, then basically was in and out of sleep all afternoon while catching up on the new Top Chef. Finally I didn't feel like puking in the evening, so I showered, ran to the grocery store to stock up on supplies for my big plan-ahead cooking (which would now have to be delayed, since I obviously didn't get to it on Saturday), then home for Hike to pick me up and we went to a Spanish/Peruvian place on Steinway. The food was pretty good, and it was fun to try a new place with this coupon he had from Yelp. I probably wouldn't go back but we love exploring restaurants, and we had really nice date conversation. We went back home to watch the American with G. Cloon, and other than G. Cloon's beauty, that movie is terrible. It was so slow and boring, and I guess supposed to represent the monotony of trade professions (ammunications maker, prostitute) but GOD DAMN IT stop trying to be meaningful by being sparse! I hate that. We gave up on it around midnight since we were getting sleepy anyway, but finished it last night. Do not recommend.
Sunday we were up early despite our best efforts, then I made breakfast, then we had a fight because he was reading some wrestling blog on the computer while I made breakfast, but I thought he HAD to study, and I was like why am I serving you while you're relaxing? Which is a terrible attitude but one I'm fighting with this school thing. I know he needs a mental break now and then, but from my perspective, while studying he always has the tv on (muted) and is flipping around to webpages and it seems like LOTS O' BREAKS. I realize that's dangerous to assume, plus his style seems to be working since he's getting good grades, but when both of our lives have to center around his studying schedule, I have some bitterness. It's not great, and I'm working on it, and he's working on not reacting so strongly when I do criticize him (which is when the cycle begins) but ugh. Anyway, that happened. Then we had to leave for his high school friend's second baby's christening on Long Island, and we finally sort of made up in the car on the way there. The service was at 1:30 pm and there were like 8 babies and they were all crying plus everyone in the pews was talking and this guy near us kept his BLUETOOTH in the entire time like a total asshole, so right, it wasn't a very meaningful service from where we were sitting. But then we went to a steakhouse for lunch ON THEM! It was really good, and I know I went over my extra points, but sometimes that is going to happen. (It would have been ideal to not have DRANK THEM ALL on Friday, then eaten them with my hangover, but oh well.)
We came home exhausted around 6:30, and he went back to the books/football on mute while I (instead of being bored with football) decided to cook those meals I'd been planning on. Well, the Taco Chicken Chili had been in the crockpot all day while we were gone, but I made these WW Red Velvet Cupcakes (3 pts) which I was nervous about but turned out quite good! (They're for tonight's Harpie dinner.) Then I made the Buffalo Chicken Lasagna, which seems like it'll be good and still really spicy even though I bought Extra Mild Wing Sauce, but I'm annoyed because it went up to 10 pts per serving because I couldn't find non-fat ricotta (just part skim) and I think that's it... the recipe says it's 7 pts per, but when I entered it into the WW Recipe Building it gave me the 10 value. So we'll deal with that....though now that I'm remembering I have 29 points per day, that seems OK. I was working in the kitchen pretty much all of last night, which wasn't so relaxing, but at least I'd laid around all day on Saturday. Plus, now I have about 18 dinners ready to go for the next few weeks!
And today I'm sort of sleepy and still have the voice of a drag queen, but tonight will be a fun Harpie dinner and tomorrow night I'll be at home with Hike. Though I do still have to do laundry... so I think there won't be as many gym trips this week, but as I said before, I'll go when I can. Oh, and the scale I ordered arrived! I tried it after lunch (shoes off) and I was still at 153, but we'll see where I am naked first thing in the morning. (TWSS?) I probably will wait until next week to start my official weekly weight reporting program, so I can be consistent with it, but you know how I love data.
Today's food:
B - apple, cereal, milk - 5
L - turkey sammy, string cheese, special k, orange - 7
D - TBD, but I know Kate is making a wild mushroom ravioli...
S - yogurt with blueberries
TOTAL - hopefully not too high
Sunday we were up early despite our best efforts, then I made breakfast, then we had a fight because he was reading some wrestling blog on the computer while I made breakfast, but I thought he HAD to study, and I was like why am I serving you while you're relaxing? Which is a terrible attitude but one I'm fighting with this school thing. I know he needs a mental break now and then, but from my perspective, while studying he always has the tv on (muted) and is flipping around to webpages and it seems like LOTS O' BREAKS. I realize that's dangerous to assume, plus his style seems to be working since he's getting good grades, but when both of our lives have to center around his studying schedule, I have some bitterness. It's not great, and I'm working on it, and he's working on not reacting so strongly when I do criticize him (which is when the cycle begins) but ugh. Anyway, that happened. Then we had to leave for his high school friend's second baby's christening on Long Island, and we finally sort of made up in the car on the way there. The service was at 1:30 pm and there were like 8 babies and they were all crying plus everyone in the pews was talking and this guy near us kept his BLUETOOTH in the entire time like a total asshole, so right, it wasn't a very meaningful service from where we were sitting. But then we went to a steakhouse for lunch ON THEM! It was really good, and I know I went over my extra points, but sometimes that is going to happen. (It would have been ideal to not have DRANK THEM ALL on Friday, then eaten them with my hangover, but oh well.)
We came home exhausted around 6:30, and he went back to the books/football on mute while I (instead of being bored with football) decided to cook those meals I'd been planning on. Well, the Taco Chicken Chili had been in the crockpot all day while we were gone, but I made these WW Red Velvet Cupcakes (3 pts) which I was nervous about but turned out quite good! (They're for tonight's Harpie dinner.) Then I made the Buffalo Chicken Lasagna, which seems like it'll be good and still really spicy even though I bought Extra Mild Wing Sauce, but I'm annoyed because it went up to 10 pts per serving because I couldn't find non-fat ricotta (just part skim) and I think that's it... the recipe says it's 7 pts per, but when I entered it into the WW Recipe Building it gave me the 10 value. So we'll deal with that....though now that I'm remembering I have 29 points per day, that seems OK. I was working in the kitchen pretty much all of last night, which wasn't so relaxing, but at least I'd laid around all day on Saturday. Plus, now I have about 18 dinners ready to go for the next few weeks!
And today I'm sort of sleepy and still have the voice of a drag queen, but tonight will be a fun Harpie dinner and tomorrow night I'll be at home with Hike. Though I do still have to do laundry... so I think there won't be as many gym trips this week, but as I said before, I'll go when I can. Oh, and the scale I ordered arrived! I tried it after lunch (shoes off) and I was still at 153, but we'll see where I am naked first thing in the morning. (TWSS?) I probably will wait until next week to start my official weekly weight reporting program, so I can be consistent with it, but you know how I love data.
Today's food:
B - apple, cereal, milk - 5
L - turkey sammy, string cheese, special k, orange - 7
D - TBD, but I know Kate is making a wild mushroom ravioli...
S - yogurt with blueberries
TOTAL - hopefully not too high
Friday, November 11, 2011
TGIAlmost Happy Hour
So I haven't had drinks in awhile...like drinks where I could get a wee buzz, so I'm very excited to be meeting Schmillie for happy hour tonight. I have all of my flexi points for the week (49!) left for this weekend, so that's enough for some beers and hopefully enough left over for some other bigger meals -- date night is tomorrow, and then we have a reception after a Christening on Sunday. I'm going to do my best to stay inbounds. I do think the reception is at a steakhouse, so I should be able to order smart and still get me some steak! Just a small one, though.
Tomorrow was going to be bowling, but I called the bowling alley to reserve a lane and it's INSANE -- they don't have open bowling except from 12 noon - 2:00 pm. And tonight only after 11:30 pm. And not on Sundays until later in the month. Is this normal? It's all taken up with leagues and stuff, which I get, but shouldn't they also allow customers to come in? Why would you sell a Groupon that one can barely use unless you happen to not have a day job? I e-mailed Groupon to try and get my money back, and we'll be doing something else tomorrow. Blerg.
My plan for daytime tomorrow is to make some WW-appropriate dinners and freeze them in portions for us. I'm going to try Buffalo Chicken Lasagne and a Taco Chicken Chili in the Crockpot. I know they're both chicken, but that's OK, right? They'll be staggered/not every night anyway. It should last us at least two weeks, too. Plus I'm going to make dessert for Harpie dinner on Monday -- and it has to be red. I'm not going to OUT IT yet, though, but I was able to get a healthier recipe on a traditional favorite, and I'm hoping they taste as good while being guilt-free!
I have been talking to the receptionist about WW lately, and it's great to have someone to nerd out with, plus she JUST gave me her WW online password so I can totally user their tools, like the Recipe Builder! I've never paid for it so I'm super pumped to see all the fun gadgets. And to see how many points some of my traditional favorite recipes are...like the Rachel Ray Creamy Chicken Chili. Mmm.
OHHH and last night I found Edy's Pumpkin Ice Cream on sale and I had to buy it for a treat. I was expecting to save it but I forgot to eat my homemade granola bar after work so I had a ton of extra points so I had a cup of it after dinner -- so good! And I forgot to bring a granola bar TODAY, annoyingly, so I need to make sure not to get too drunk. I may eat more Special K bars, which I keep at work.
Happy weekend, friends!
Today's food:
B - apple, cereal, milk - 4
L - turkey bagel sandwich, string cheese, orange, special k - 7
D - TBD
S - yogurt with blueberries, beer, tbd - 3+
TOTAL - we'll see
Tomorrow was going to be bowling, but I called the bowling alley to reserve a lane and it's INSANE -- they don't have open bowling except from 12 noon - 2:00 pm. And tonight only after 11:30 pm. And not on Sundays until later in the month. Is this normal? It's all taken up with leagues and stuff, which I get, but shouldn't they also allow customers to come in? Why would you sell a Groupon that one can barely use unless you happen to not have a day job? I e-mailed Groupon to try and get my money back, and we'll be doing something else tomorrow. Blerg.
My plan for daytime tomorrow is to make some WW-appropriate dinners and freeze them in portions for us. I'm going to try Buffalo Chicken Lasagne and a Taco Chicken Chili in the Crockpot. I know they're both chicken, but that's OK, right? They'll be staggered/not every night anyway. It should last us at least two weeks, too. Plus I'm going to make dessert for Harpie dinner on Monday -- and it has to be red. I'm not going to OUT IT yet, though, but I was able to get a healthier recipe on a traditional favorite, and I'm hoping they taste as good while being guilt-free!
I have been talking to the receptionist about WW lately, and it's great to have someone to nerd out with, plus she JUST gave me her WW online password so I can totally user their tools, like the Recipe Builder! I've never paid for it so I'm super pumped to see all the fun gadgets. And to see how many points some of my traditional favorite recipes are...like the Rachel Ray Creamy Chicken Chili. Mmm.
OHHH and last night I found Edy's Pumpkin Ice Cream on sale and I had to buy it for a treat. I was expecting to save it but I forgot to eat my homemade granola bar after work so I had a ton of extra points so I had a cup of it after dinner -- so good! And I forgot to bring a granola bar TODAY, annoyingly, so I need to make sure not to get too drunk. I may eat more Special K bars, which I keep at work.
Happy weekend, friends!
Today's food:
B - apple, cereal, milk - 4
L - turkey bagel sandwich, string cheese, orange, special k - 7
D - TBD
S - yogurt with blueberries, beer, tbd - 3+
TOTAL - we'll see
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Slogging Along
That what it feels like I'm doing after all this gross warm humid weather lately. We had such a brief, shining week of Fall, and now it's hot and uncomfortable again. Though this weekend should be cooler, and I can bring out the hoodies again, thank goodness.
What a week! As I've now become quite comfortable spending most of my weeknights at home, I really pushed the envelope with Harpie dinner on Monday night in Brooklyn (theme: Johnny Appleseed) and then a concert last night with Schmeather. We saw The Head and the Heart at The Bowery Ballroom, and they were excellent, but they didn't go on until about 11:15, after two opening bands, and so I got home at about 1:15 am. The opening bands were kind of boring -- actually we only went up to the main room for the second one -- so as much as I love seeing fantastic live music, I think I may have to not go on weeknights anymore. Or now that I'm typing this out, maybe I'll just be really picky about it, since today isn't as hard to survive as I thought it would be.
ANYWAY, I am very much looking forward to a night at home tonight. I have to pick up the veggies after work, and then Hike will be coming over at some point, but before then I can probably get in some couch and DVR time... and it'll be nice to go to sleep before midnight (I hope, at least.)
I need to start re-incorporating the gym or some sort of activity into my life, since after a month of letting myself go/eat whatever, I am feeling the results. My clothes are all tight (which could partially be due to high heat drying, but who knows), my tummy is big (I swear I'm pregnant while having my period, because it feels so firm. Is that possible?), and I am feeling decidedly dumpy and unsexy. (Well, except that Hike and I are sexting right now, so I'm still looking forward to it -- just with the lights out.) Um I guess I also have my extremely light period right now, which could be contributing. Now, is it light because I'm pregnant or because I'm now taking more hormones (a light dose) for my acne? Probably the latter. Oh, and I've also decided that I need to start dressing more like a grown-up, so I've spent a lot of money online shopping recently. I know I won't keep it all, but I can at least perk up my wardrobe a bit. And it doesn't help that I'm totally sick of all my summer clothing options.
There's not much news. The weekends have been full of homework (him); puttering around the house baking, cooking, cleaning, reading (me); visiting the family on Sunday and doing our laundry (me) while he studies more (him); and my weeks have been made up of things like book club, walking home from work (last week, when we had some gloriously cooler days), and catching up on all the new fall television. Last weekend I had time on Saturday to borrow his car and visit Schmillie in Brooklyn for the afternoon, then head to Trader Joe's in Rego Park to stock up on pantry items. I'm cooking more dinners, but I enjoy it. I feel like I'm contributing what I can do to his overwhelming school schedule now. I also have started making homemade granola bars for him to throw in his bag to eat during class, since he gets so hungry and wasn't bringing anything, plus he likes natural, healthy stuff. It feels good to support him in that way, and I'm lucky that he appreciates it. It's how I'm showing love. (Barf, amiright?)
We've had some serious talks about the future recently, so I'm very happy with where we are and what's to come. And we've gotten much better at arguing. The fights do still happen, but usually we can head them off at the pass -- and we're learning how to balance his schoolwork with time together, plus I'm nagging him less to be more organized as he's making a good system for himself. I'm feeling optimistic about this thing. And the one-year anniversary of our first date is coming up on October 13, so it feels like a big milestone. I'm excited!
And that's the story, morning glories. I feel like I'm getting so repetitive, but hey, consistency is the salt of life.
What a week! As I've now become quite comfortable spending most of my weeknights at home, I really pushed the envelope with Harpie dinner on Monday night in Brooklyn (theme: Johnny Appleseed) and then a concert last night with Schmeather. We saw The Head and the Heart at The Bowery Ballroom, and they were excellent, but they didn't go on until about 11:15, after two opening bands, and so I got home at about 1:15 am. The opening bands were kind of boring -- actually we only went up to the main room for the second one -- so as much as I love seeing fantastic live music, I think I may have to not go on weeknights anymore. Or now that I'm typing this out, maybe I'll just be really picky about it, since today isn't as hard to survive as I thought it would be.
ANYWAY, I am very much looking forward to a night at home tonight. I have to pick up the veggies after work, and then Hike will be coming over at some point, but before then I can probably get in some couch and DVR time... and it'll be nice to go to sleep before midnight (I hope, at least.)
I need to start re-incorporating the gym or some sort of activity into my life, since after a month of letting myself go/eat whatever, I am feeling the results. My clothes are all tight (which could partially be due to high heat drying, but who knows), my tummy is big (I swear I'm pregnant while having my period, because it feels so firm. Is that possible?), and I am feeling decidedly dumpy and unsexy. (Well, except that Hike and I are sexting right now, so I'm still looking forward to it -- just with the lights out.) Um I guess I also have my extremely light period right now, which could be contributing. Now, is it light because I'm pregnant or because I'm now taking more hormones (a light dose) for my acne? Probably the latter. Oh, and I've also decided that I need to start dressing more like a grown-up, so I've spent a lot of money online shopping recently. I know I won't keep it all, but I can at least perk up my wardrobe a bit. And it doesn't help that I'm totally sick of all my summer clothing options.
There's not much news. The weekends have been full of homework (him); puttering around the house baking, cooking, cleaning, reading (me); visiting the family on Sunday and doing our laundry (me) while he studies more (him); and my weeks have been made up of things like book club, walking home from work (last week, when we had some gloriously cooler days), and catching up on all the new fall television. Last weekend I had time on Saturday to borrow his car and visit Schmillie in Brooklyn for the afternoon, then head to Trader Joe's in Rego Park to stock up on pantry items. I'm cooking more dinners, but I enjoy it. I feel like I'm contributing what I can do to his overwhelming school schedule now. I also have started making homemade granola bars for him to throw in his bag to eat during class, since he gets so hungry and wasn't bringing anything, plus he likes natural, healthy stuff. It feels good to support him in that way, and I'm lucky that he appreciates it. It's how I'm showing love. (Barf, amiright?)
We've had some serious talks about the future recently, so I'm very happy with where we are and what's to come. And we've gotten much better at arguing. The fights do still happen, but usually we can head them off at the pass -- and we're learning how to balance his schoolwork with time together, plus I'm nagging him less to be more organized as he's making a good system for himself. I'm feeling optimistic about this thing. And the one-year anniversary of our first date is coming up on October 13, so it feels like a big milestone. I'm excited!
And that's the story, morning glories. I feel like I'm getting so repetitive, but hey, consistency is the salt of life.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Much Like the Economy...
My mental state is very in flux. So on Tuesday, my roommate gets bites -- 7 of them, to be precise. They appear to be bed bug bites. She has started washing/cleaning thoroughly, but is busy at her job and only last night called the crappy exterminator we've had, who can't come until Friday or Saturday. So I asked her to call more today, but she's decidedly less urgent about this than I am. I'm just very worried they'll re-spread to my room/side of the apartment, and while it's been safe so far, I don't want to tempt anything! And also, what if I have to wash all of my belongings again? I will, but goddamn, this is awful. And it's worse because so far no exterminator is scheduled and that drives me batty. (Roommate said to me "I'm not as freaked out about this as you are." THAT IS NOT OK. YOU SHOULD BE FREAKED OUT.) Obviously they somehow migrated to her end of the apartment, though it's been a month since I discovered them in my room, and it's all so confusing. Plus, she had a ton of bites at one time, but why did it just suddenly happen? Her room was sprayed twice of the three times that mine was, and while she didn't wash/bag all of her things, shouldn't the sprays have killed any eggies that were around? Obviously they were hiding, but it feels like a neverending problem and I'm having some rough moments (and some optimistic moments, too.) I just hope she has called another exterminator by now. I'm going to harass her.
Otherwise, today is a beautiful day, I'm planning on sleeping at Hike's tonight in order to be less tempting to any bugs in my apartment (though so far, so good), and I made some Saturday "drunch" plans with my neighborhood girls, plus Hike already made plans for our Saturday night, which you know I love. We'll do dinner and a movie in Astoria (seeing Captain America), but it's nice to have an actual date planned, you know? And I THINK/HOPE I can Skype with Britch tonight. I haven't talked to her in SO LONG and I leave in like two weeks to see her in England (hopefully the riots will be over) and I can't wait! The idea of running away for a week is very appealing, too, though I will miss Hike dreadfully.
OH, we planned our winter holidays yesterday. It began because he was looking at his vacation schedule for work, which he has to use by the end of the year, and he's trying to take time off when he can maximize it for completing schoolwork. I asked if he was going to come home with me for New Year's again, and so he looked into it and planned the long weekend for when he'll come to meet me there (after Christmas). I was a bit whiney about it, in the "I would have hoped you'd think of that yourself, since for our relationship to move forward, don't you need to spend some more time with my parents?" way, by which I meant "You'll want to ask my dad for permission to marry me ASAP, right???" But it was fine, once I mentioned it (and he was like "Oh yes, I want to do that, I just wasn't thinking about it and you hadn't told me your plans to go home, either...") he got right into the planning and looking up airfare, so I calmed down. Plus, then the BB World War II news hit, so I was distracted.
To top off my bad day yesterday, I volunteered to get the veggies for Roommate so she could go buy a steamer and a box spring cover, etc., and on my walk down Crescent, I passed Mex. I mean, I am always afraid of going that way because of that reason, and wouldn't you know, I get myself calmed down and am walking and there he is. Looking either already drunk or hungover, and making a really sullen face and not looking at me, so we passed like ships in the night. I think I rolled my eyes (like, of course I have to see you today) but he didn't acknowledge me, though he would have surely seen me. It's fine, I don't want to talk to him, but it's so strange to know someone intimately for two years (or at least know part of them) and then totally not acknowledge them on the street. I'M SO MUCH BETTER OFF.
And finally, in good news, I got my bracelet from Hike repaired and back yesterday by a great jeweler on 47th -- he only charged me $20, he fixed the broken place and another spot that looked weak, and he cleaned it, in 24 hours! Amazing. So now I get to admire it on my wrist again and think of him, aww. Ok, back to being bored at work. Enjoy the blue skies!
Otherwise, today is a beautiful day, I'm planning on sleeping at Hike's tonight in order to be less tempting to any bugs in my apartment (though so far, so good), and I made some Saturday "drunch" plans with my neighborhood girls, plus Hike already made plans for our Saturday night, which you know I love. We'll do dinner and a movie in Astoria (seeing Captain America), but it's nice to have an actual date planned, you know? And I THINK/HOPE I can Skype with Britch tonight. I haven't talked to her in SO LONG and I leave in like two weeks to see her in England (hopefully the riots will be over) and I can't wait! The idea of running away for a week is very appealing, too, though I will miss Hike dreadfully.
OH, we planned our winter holidays yesterday. It began because he was looking at his vacation schedule for work, which he has to use by the end of the year, and he's trying to take time off when he can maximize it for completing schoolwork. I asked if he was going to come home with me for New Year's again, and so he looked into it and planned the long weekend for when he'll come to meet me there (after Christmas). I was a bit whiney about it, in the "I would have hoped you'd think of that yourself, since for our relationship to move forward, don't you need to spend some more time with my parents?" way, by which I meant "You'll want to ask my dad for permission to marry me ASAP, right???" But it was fine, once I mentioned it (and he was like "Oh yes, I want to do that, I just wasn't thinking about it and you hadn't told me your plans to go home, either...") he got right into the planning and looking up airfare, so I calmed down. Plus, then the BB World War II news hit, so I was distracted.
To top off my bad day yesterday, I volunteered to get the veggies for Roommate so she could go buy a steamer and a box spring cover, etc., and on my walk down Crescent, I passed Mex. I mean, I am always afraid of going that way because of that reason, and wouldn't you know, I get myself calmed down and am walking and there he is. Looking either already drunk or hungover, and making a really sullen face and not looking at me, so we passed like ships in the night. I think I rolled my eyes (like, of course I have to see you today) but he didn't acknowledge me, though he would have surely seen me. It's fine, I don't want to talk to him, but it's so strange to know someone intimately for two years (or at least know part of them) and then totally not acknowledge them on the street. I'M SO MUCH BETTER OFF.
And finally, in good news, I got my bracelet from Hike repaired and back yesterday by a great jeweler on 47th -- he only charged me $20, he fixed the broken place and another spot that looked weak, and he cleaned it, in 24 hours! Amazing. So now I get to admire it on my wrist again and think of him, aww. Ok, back to being bored at work. Enjoy the blue skies!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Ketchup
Hola amigos! Ha ha, just kidding, I hate Spanish.
Well, life goes on. I'm surviving life post-apocolyptic bug problem, and it's getting a bit better every day. Unfortunately last night my downstairs neighbors found two alive bed bugs in their living room, which is below my bedroom. They hadn't had any bites or any in the bed, so we're hoping it's just a few stragglers that escaped from my poison-filled walls. They had the exterminator come this morning, and he's coming twice more, though he doesn't think he needs to do my apartment again. I'm thinking of buying this Diatomaceous Earth stuff and shoring up the walls of my room to prevent re-entry. Why not? And I haven't had any more problems, thank goodness. My bed is an island fortress (so far.)
So this past weekend was a nice one. Friday Hike and I just chilled at his place, beat that video game we'd been playing, and hung out. Saturday morning he headed out to Atlantic City for another boys' party for his friend's 30th birthday. I want him to go and have fun and have man time, but I do get slightly worried about, I don't know, STRIPPERZ and hoes and stuff. But I trust him very much, so I try to banish those thoughts. (I was just reflecting on that this weekend -- how far I've come from a year ago as far as trusting a man. I really found the right one after the last fiasco.) So I kept the car and off they went, and I spent the rest of my Saturday cleaning, doing laundry, and baking some sugar-free cookies for his Grandma's 92nd birthday party on Sunday. (She's diabetic.) I enjoyed myself very much! Oh, and I walked up to Steinway to buy her a brooch from one of those costume jewelry stores, and wrapped it all up pretty and signed the card from us. I felt very wifely.
Sunday (after texting with Mom and calls with his sister-in-law), I drove to Flushing to pick up Grandma and then we headed out to Huntington to his mom's house. I helped with some food prep and hung out with the family friends and a girl cousin I'd not met before who was very friendly, and I did his laundry in the basement (I didn't mind because it gave me an escape every once in awhile) and then the boys (he and his brother) finally arrived at about 4 pm, and we ate steaks and chicken and salad and all sorts of good stuff. Then when it was time for dessert, we had a million things -- peach pie, blueberry tart, my cookies (they were a hit! The biscotti was very good, if I say so myself.), ice cream cake, this grape/walnut/cream cheese concoction, etc. I ate so much that I got a tummy ache, but it was all delicious and I was happy to have Hike back. He looked so cute and was being very sweet, so I felt appreciated for what I'd done to help celebrate. (He said he met me at the perfect time, which was a new one, and made me feel great.)
So I drove us home, since he was worn out and I love driving, and that was about it for the weekend! This week I still have some errand-y things to accomplish, such as getting my Christmas present bracelet fixed (finally), bringing home the rug I ordered for my room, buying some slimming underwear for my bridesmaid dress, etc. Tomorrow we're seeing our free Tuesday movie, and this one will be Cowboys & Aliens, so it should be fun. I leave in two weeks and three days for London/Scotland, so I should start thinking about packing and planning for that, too! I am getting very excited, though I plan on traveling with lots of garbage bags to stay as bug-free as possible.
One good side effect of this stress is that I've lost some weight. I have no idea how much, since I threw out the scale, but my clothes are fitting better, so that feels good. It's probably partially due to my smoking again (I don't know how to handle stress without it yet), but I'll take what I can get. In a week or so, or maybe right after my trip, I'll re-quit. (I know a few of my friends will be smoking there, so maybe that's too tough to stop beforehand.)
It's been a fun/crazy/fast summer, and it feels like it's starting to wrap up, but I did get in a good visit with Schmauren last weekend at the beer garden in Astoria, plus a nice trip to Vermont and I'll be international before it's over. I'm also feeling very happy about my relationship, so I'm excited to see how that grows in the fall and winter, and plus, you know how much I love autumn and the winter holidays!
Well, life goes on. I'm surviving life post-apocolyptic bug problem, and it's getting a bit better every day. Unfortunately last night my downstairs neighbors found two alive bed bugs in their living room, which is below my bedroom. They hadn't had any bites or any in the bed, so we're hoping it's just a few stragglers that escaped from my poison-filled walls. They had the exterminator come this morning, and he's coming twice more, though he doesn't think he needs to do my apartment again. I'm thinking of buying this Diatomaceous Earth stuff and shoring up the walls of my room to prevent re-entry. Why not? And I haven't had any more problems, thank goodness. My bed is an island fortress (so far.)
So this past weekend was a nice one. Friday Hike and I just chilled at his place, beat that video game we'd been playing, and hung out. Saturday morning he headed out to Atlantic City for another boys' party for his friend's 30th birthday. I want him to go and have fun and have man time, but I do get slightly worried about, I don't know, STRIPPERZ and hoes and stuff. But I trust him very much, so I try to banish those thoughts. (I was just reflecting on that this weekend -- how far I've come from a year ago as far as trusting a man. I really found the right one after the last fiasco.) So I kept the car and off they went, and I spent the rest of my Saturday cleaning, doing laundry, and baking some sugar-free cookies for his Grandma's 92nd birthday party on Sunday. (She's diabetic.) I enjoyed myself very much! Oh, and I walked up to Steinway to buy her a brooch from one of those costume jewelry stores, and wrapped it all up pretty and signed the card from us. I felt very wifely.
Sunday (after texting with Mom and calls with his sister-in-law), I drove to Flushing to pick up Grandma and then we headed out to Huntington to his mom's house. I helped with some food prep and hung out with the family friends and a girl cousin I'd not met before who was very friendly, and I did his laundry in the basement (I didn't mind because it gave me an escape every once in awhile) and then the boys (he and his brother) finally arrived at about 4 pm, and we ate steaks and chicken and salad and all sorts of good stuff. Then when it was time for dessert, we had a million things -- peach pie, blueberry tart, my cookies (they were a hit! The biscotti was very good, if I say so myself.), ice cream cake, this grape/walnut/cream cheese concoction, etc. I ate so much that I got a tummy ache, but it was all delicious and I was happy to have Hike back. He looked so cute and was being very sweet, so I felt appreciated for what I'd done to help celebrate. (He said he met me at the perfect time, which was a new one, and made me feel great.)
So I drove us home, since he was worn out and I love driving, and that was about it for the weekend! This week I still have some errand-y things to accomplish, such as getting my Christmas present bracelet fixed (finally), bringing home the rug I ordered for my room, buying some slimming underwear for my bridesmaid dress, etc. Tomorrow we're seeing our free Tuesday movie, and this one will be Cowboys & Aliens, so it should be fun. I leave in two weeks and three days for London/Scotland, so I should start thinking about packing and planning for that, too! I am getting very excited, though I plan on traveling with lots of garbage bags to stay as bug-free as possible.
One good side effect of this stress is that I've lost some weight. I have no idea how much, since I threw out the scale, but my clothes are fitting better, so that feels good. It's probably partially due to my smoking again (I don't know how to handle stress without it yet), but I'll take what I can get. In a week or so, or maybe right after my trip, I'll re-quit. (I know a few of my friends will be smoking there, so maybe that's too tough to stop beforehand.)
It's been a fun/crazy/fast summer, and it feels like it's starting to wrap up, but I did get in a good visit with Schmauren last weekend at the beer garden in Astoria, plus a nice trip to Vermont and I'll be international before it's over. I'm also feeling very happy about my relationship, so I'm excited to see how that grows in the fall and winter, and plus, you know how much I love autumn and the winter holidays!
Friday, July 8, 2011
West Dover, West Dover, Send Stevie Right Over
In a few hours Hike & I will be on the road for our weekend minibreak to West Dover, Vermont, which is in the southwest quadrant of the state (according to Google maps.) I can't wait! As my confirmation e-mail says:
"Your Historic Getaway Escape Kit includes 2 nights stay for 2, breakfast for 2 each morning, a $50 credit towards one dinner in our restaurant, a wine and cheese tray delivered to your room, 50% off a kayak, canoe or bike rental, a picnic lunch and trail map to local swimming holes and an artist’s tour of Skip Morrow’s gallery. At the inn you will receive a packet with all the details, maps and info you need to enjoy your amazing deal!"
This is the inn:
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And this is our room:
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And this is the forecast:
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We'll head out once Hike gets the all-clear to leave work (banks are so stuffy) and then we'll run back to Astoria to pick up our stuff and the car, and then hit the WIDE OPEN ROAD (after NYC traffic, that is.) I hope it's romantic and outdoorsy and relaxing. Don't worry, I've packed bug spray -- this week I have another bad few on my arm, too, so I know better now than to risk getting eaten. But we decided we want to canoe (instead of biking or kayaking) since that's the activity we'll have the least opportunity to do here, and I'd love to hike (ha, with Hike) and swim and eat and read. I may never come back!
Geez, think I should manage my expectations? Oh well. Happy weekend, everyone!
"Your Historic Getaway Escape Kit includes 2 nights stay for 2, breakfast for 2 each morning, a $50 credit towards one dinner in our restaurant, a wine and cheese tray delivered to your room, 50% off a kayak, canoe or bike rental, a picnic lunch and trail map to local swimming holes and an artist’s tour of Skip Morrow’s gallery. At the inn you will receive a packet with all the details, maps and info you need to enjoy your amazing deal!"
This is the inn:
And this is our room:
And this is the forecast:
We'll head out once Hike gets the all-clear to leave work (banks are so stuffy) and then we'll run back to Astoria to pick up our stuff and the car, and then hit the WIDE OPEN ROAD (after NYC traffic, that is.) I hope it's romantic and outdoorsy and relaxing. Don't worry, I've packed bug spray -- this week I have another bad few on my arm, too, so I know better now than to risk getting eaten. But we decided we want to canoe (instead of biking or kayaking) since that's the activity we'll have the least opportunity to do here, and I'd love to hike (ha, with Hike) and swim and eat and read. I may never come back!
Geez, think I should manage my expectations? Oh well. Happy weekend, everyone!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Weekends and Bookends
Well, I was very quiet last week, and at this point, I can't remember/won't bore you with details about the weekend before this one. But this one! Was nice and long and relaxing.
Friday I snuck out of work at 4:30 to meet Schmillie and see Bad Teacher. I thought it'd be dumb funny and Jason Siegel was in it and how wrong could that go? But oh, so wrong. And you guys, I know I'm supposed to be all up in Justin Timberlake's jock or whatever, but NO. He's just so asexual to me. Yuck. And so there's a really creepy "love" scene (or rather, "dryhump" scene) and it only makes him more revolting. Anyway, the movie was bad but we got through it together, then wandered a bit to Banana Republic, and it was a lovely night, and I bought a soft sweater on sale, and then heard some lovely opera in the Union Square subway station before getting home to relax and watch True Blood. Hike came over after the Mets/Yankees game (he went with friends to CitiField) and then to bed.
Saturday he left, and I was terribly PMS-cranky and took a two-hour nap and then went to the gym and met up with Hike and his friend Yoshi for dinner and UFC watching, yawn. But it was nice to be out and have some beers. Sunday we went to church with his Grandma, then back to her house for family dinner in the afternoon (and doing his laundry), and his mom brought me a white jacket that she bought but didn't fit her right, so now I have a white casual jacket. She wears petites so basically can hand things down to me, and this is something I'd wear to work and not too mom-ish, so good! Sunday night we just stayed in at his place, cooked dinner, and played our video game.
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Friday I snuck out of work at 4:30 to meet Schmillie and see Bad Teacher. I thought it'd be dumb funny and Jason Siegel was in it and how wrong could that go? But oh, so wrong. And you guys, I know I'm supposed to be all up in Justin Timberlake's jock or whatever, but NO. He's just so asexual to me. Yuck. And so there's a really creepy "love" scene (or rather, "dryhump" scene) and it only makes him more revolting. Anyway, the movie was bad but we got through it together, then wandered a bit to Banana Republic, and it was a lovely night, and I bought a soft sweater on sale, and then heard some lovely opera in the Union Square subway station before getting home to relax and watch True Blood. Hike came over after the Mets/Yankees game (he went with friends to CitiField) and then to bed.
Saturday he left, and I was terribly PMS-cranky and took a two-hour nap and then went to the gym and met up with Hike and his friend Yoshi for dinner and UFC watching, yawn. But it was nice to be out and have some beers. Sunday we went to church with his Grandma, then back to her house for family dinner in the afternoon (and doing his laundry), and his mom brought me a white jacket that she bought but didn't fit her right, so now I have a white casual jacket. She wears petites so basically can hand things down to me, and this is something I'd wear to work and not too mom-ish, so good! Sunday night we just stayed in at his place, cooked dinner, and played our video game.
And then Monday we picked up his friend Yoshi and headed out to Long Beach, where we met up with his bro and sis-in-law plus some other of their friends. It was so pretty -- the cloud cover had cleared by the time we got there, and the water was cool but totally comfortable, which meant I could go in to cool off every 20 minutes (as I need to when I'm hot!) It was fun and we stayed about two hours, which was the limit on his parking spot, and he tried to move the car but couldn't find another spot so we just gave up and came home. It was for the best, though, as we beat the return traffic and had time to relax and shower before meeting Yoshi again for dinner on Broadway in Astoria. We sat in the back garden of a Thai place and I had a pink drink and it was relaxing. Then home to hold a two-week old baby! One of my roommate's friend's just had her and they were over for dinner, so I nabbed the baby and sat in the quiet living room to hold her for awhile while she slept. Adorable.
Now it's Tuesday already! I can't wait for this weekend's Vermont trip. I hope it's entirely relaxing and outdoorsy and loving and rejuvinating. And until then, I'll gym it tonight, go to softball tomorrow (and Hike may come over after), then get my nails did on Thursday (and I need an eyebrow wax really bad -- they're caterpillars), and then we leave early afternoon on Friday.
OH and I'm re-reading Forever. I love this book. It starts out in Celtic Ireland, which I've always enjoyed learning about, and then is set in various Manhattan time periods, so it's the best kind of historical fiction. It's also getting me (more) psyched to watch the New York documentary that I bought Hike for his birthday. We have less movie time lately, but I hope we can break that puppy open soon. Anyway, I'll finish the book this week and then I can bring our new book club pick to Vermont. Ahh, summer reading, I love you.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Something Black & Blue
First of all, I'd like to thank Kelly for her comment on my last post -- you really helped calm me down in the midst of a bed bug-panic attack! And the more I think about it, the more I think you're right. So I appreciate the chiming in! And since according to history, the next bite explosion will happen today or tomorrow, I'm on the edge of my seat and also planning on continuing to wear long sleeves to bed as well as stick with the closed-window/AC plan. I also have that dermatologist appointment on Wednesday, so I can discuss it with her and show her pictures, even if I have no new evidence (knock on wood.)
Weekends! How were they? Mine was a lot of fun but today I'm just wiped out. Friday I found out at the last minute that Hike's high school friend (who now lives in Texas) was in town for the weekend, so we drove out to Huntington to meet up with a whole crew for a few beers. I enjoyed the divey bar with the juke box and we even got in a game of pool, but man, I was so tired and would've rather spent the night at home. (Of course I ended up having fun and getting a little buzzed, but it was not my ideal evening.) Then Saturday we were up earlyish to get ready for our brief trip to the Poconos!
So his brother picks us up from my house, where we then drive back into Manhattan to pick up his brother's wife, since his brother decided he'd have to go back that way anyway? It was all confusing and we ended up waiting for forever and I was grumpy about it, but we finally got on the road and then up to the Shawnee Resort, after a stop for lunch at Holy Guacamole, of course. The wedding was romantic and we got drunk and silly and danced a lot (I may have taken a knee while trying to limbo?) The place was nice, and the ceremony was outside on the banks of the river (but hot and buggy! don't worry, I used bug spray) and then the cocktail hour was on the veranda and the reception/dinner was in the ballroom, so it was cooler. But we got sweaty dancing anyway! And his friends are all so fun, and it's very comfortable now, so I had a great time. I also loved the view of the river and the foothills beyond -- oh, nature.
Sunday morning we were up early and hungover after about 3 hours of sleep, and we get the hotel's all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet (biscuits and gravy! bacon!) and then hit the road back to the city. Once we finally made it, Hike and I immediately put on PJs (at like 1 pm) and climbed into bed to watch movies and nap the rest of the afternoon. It was a tough weekend, energy-wise.
Then last night I took sleeping pills since I was worried that after the napping I wouldn't fall asleep, and this morning I was a tired mess -- I still feel like I could fall asleep at any minute! I had a ton of crazy dreams last night, too -- a big, long one was about a bed bug infestation and in my dream they looked different than they do in real life, and I had to go through the whole bagging of clothes and everything, and then I woke up and went to the bathroom and the rest of my dreams remembered that one, like I couldn't tell in the dream (or even this morning when I woke up) if it had really happened. Ugh, my biggest fear.
Anyway, I'm exhausted but had a lovely time at the wedding, and am equal parts excited and totally money-worried about my own! Happy almost-summer, friends!
Weekends! How were they? Mine was a lot of fun but today I'm just wiped out. Friday I found out at the last minute that Hike's high school friend (who now lives in Texas) was in town for the weekend, so we drove out to Huntington to meet up with a whole crew for a few beers. I enjoyed the divey bar with the juke box and we even got in a game of pool, but man, I was so tired and would've rather spent the night at home. (Of course I ended up having fun and getting a little buzzed, but it was not my ideal evening.) Then Saturday we were up earlyish to get ready for our brief trip to the Poconos!
So his brother picks us up from my house, where we then drive back into Manhattan to pick up his brother's wife, since his brother decided he'd have to go back that way anyway? It was all confusing and we ended up waiting for forever and I was grumpy about it, but we finally got on the road and then up to the Shawnee Resort, after a stop for lunch at Holy Guacamole, of course. The wedding was romantic and we got drunk and silly and danced a lot (I may have taken a knee while trying to limbo?) The place was nice, and the ceremony was outside on the banks of the river (but hot and buggy! don't worry, I used bug spray) and then the cocktail hour was on the veranda and the reception/dinner was in the ballroom, so it was cooler. But we got sweaty dancing anyway! And his friends are all so fun, and it's very comfortable now, so I had a great time. I also loved the view of the river and the foothills beyond -- oh, nature.
Sunday morning we were up early and hungover after about 3 hours of sleep, and we get the hotel's all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet (biscuits and gravy! bacon!) and then hit the road back to the city. Once we finally made it, Hike and I immediately put on PJs (at like 1 pm) and climbed into bed to watch movies and nap the rest of the afternoon. It was a tough weekend, energy-wise.
Then last night I took sleeping pills since I was worried that after the napping I wouldn't fall asleep, and this morning I was a tired mess -- I still feel like I could fall asleep at any minute! I had a ton of crazy dreams last night, too -- a big, long one was about a bed bug infestation and in my dream they looked different than they do in real life, and I had to go through the whole bagging of clothes and everything, and then I woke up and went to the bathroom and the rest of my dreams remembered that one, like I couldn't tell in the dream (or even this morning when I woke up) if it had really happened. Ugh, my biggest fear.
Anyway, I'm exhausted but had a lovely time at the wedding, and am equal parts excited and totally money-worried about my own! Happy almost-summer, friends!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Monday the 13th: No New Blood
Wow, I had to go on Wikipedia to look at all the Friday movie titles for that joke, so I'm pretty sure NO ONE will get it. I barely do.
So today marks eight months since my first date with Hike, and it's a sweet feeling. Of course I'll be celebrating by having happy hour drinks with my Harpies, since I mean, we spent all weekend together already, but it's a nice milestone!
The weekend was nice and relaxing for the most part. Friday night I went home, talked to Britch for a bit, hit the gym, then picked up around the house, made a yummy dinner (TJ's butternut squash triangioli with a squash/walnut/apple sauce I invented) and watched Netflix stuff until Hike was done with his all-boys steakhouse night and came home to me. He was a bit tipsy after some martinis, and it was fun to see him like that since he only rarely drinks that much.
Saturday we woke up and watched The Green Hornet with breakfast in bed, and then somehow the whole day moved quickly while we were being lazy, until we split up for two hours to get cleaned up. Then he picked me up for a Bareburger dinner and to see The Hangover. It was really funny! I know everyone says it's no different than the first one, but who cares, it's still amusing. We got into a stupid argument that started when he didn't put the armrest down to cuddle and I said something pointed and it just sort of went downhill from there. It was stupid, but we talked about it later when we got home and it did enable us to have a very honest and good conversation about some sensitive issues. Then we played our video game for awhile, then went to sleep.
Of course in the morning, I woke up swinging, as he was up before me and decided to put on some UFC fight he'd DVRed and I woke up (unhappily) to that noise. I threw a mini-fit because I just wanted more SLEEP, but whatever, it was fine after awhile. Then we played more of our video game, then I napped while he watched the Mets, and then we headed out to try Five Guys' Burgers (yum!) and do a Trader Joe's run. He'd never really shopped in one, and I was nervous (like when your friend meets your boyfriend, you know?) because I love it so much, and it was really crowded but he liked the food options (he's a health nut) and we got a good cartful of stuff. It's fun since almost half of what I buy is for both of us anyway, so it was nice to have his opinion, too.
And I was home at 6 for a night of settling in at home and watching A Bronx Tale (which was my homework assigment from my Italian Stallion). I talked to my mom for awhile, too, and it was a very relaxing end to the weekend.
ALSO, my last two bites have shown up at the beginning of the past two weeks (first on Tuesday after Labor Day, the next last Monday) so my new theories are that I either got them at Hike's (after a 36-hour delay period) or they were on the little sweaters I wear to work that are all stored in the same drawer at home. So I slept in long sleeves all weekend, I sprayed my natural oil sprays on the beds, and I didn't wear a little sweater today (though I brought one in case I got really cold.) So far, no bite. I HOPE HOPE HOPE we've cracked this case, friends. If I can go another week without one, I'll start laying off the precautions one by one to try to determine the cause. And no, that doctor's office never called me about setting up an appointment but my arm started clearing up really well with the Benedryl spray last week and is now totally fine, with just some residual discoloration.
Otherwise, I ate rather well this weekend (two burgers, I know, but one was bison, I didn't have fries with them and they were both topped with healthy things), I felt better about my body after going to the gym twice last week plus walking four miles to softball on Wednesday, and I feel good about my relationship and its future, if we could just stop this damn bickering. Does everyone do this? Help.
OHHH and I forgot the big news -- Hike heard on Friday that he was accepted into grad school for his MBA! Just when I was bugging him to fill out the application for a safety school. So that is good news for him and us and the future, but it'll be a tough four (?) years as far as time management, since he'll work full-time (at least for now) and have school two nights a week. But I want to support him and make it easier for him, and I hope I can be patient. This means we'll be able to better figure out how and when our relationship will grow over the next few years. It also means he won't be able to come to Scotland with me for Britch's wedding, but I knew that was a possibility. I'm disappointed in the short-term, but it's for the best. And it'll be cheaper if only one of us is going, too -- only $2,000 instead of more. So it's good news! Also scary, but good, right?
Happy Sleepy Mondays, everyone.
So today marks eight months since my first date with Hike, and it's a sweet feeling. Of course I'll be celebrating by having happy hour drinks with my Harpies, since I mean, we spent all weekend together already, but it's a nice milestone!
The weekend was nice and relaxing for the most part. Friday night I went home, talked to Britch for a bit, hit the gym, then picked up around the house, made a yummy dinner (TJ's butternut squash triangioli with a squash/walnut/apple sauce I invented) and watched Netflix stuff until Hike was done with his all-boys steakhouse night and came home to me. He was a bit tipsy after some martinis, and it was fun to see him like that since he only rarely drinks that much.
Saturday we woke up and watched The Green Hornet with breakfast in bed, and then somehow the whole day moved quickly while we were being lazy, until we split up for two hours to get cleaned up. Then he picked me up for a Bareburger dinner and to see The Hangover. It was really funny! I know everyone says it's no different than the first one, but who cares, it's still amusing. We got into a stupid argument that started when he didn't put the armrest down to cuddle and I said something pointed and it just sort of went downhill from there. It was stupid, but we talked about it later when we got home and it did enable us to have a very honest and good conversation about some sensitive issues. Then we played our video game for awhile, then went to sleep.
Of course in the morning, I woke up swinging, as he was up before me and decided to put on some UFC fight he'd DVRed and I woke up (unhappily) to that noise. I threw a mini-fit because I just wanted more SLEEP, but whatever, it was fine after awhile. Then we played more of our video game, then I napped while he watched the Mets, and then we headed out to try Five Guys' Burgers (yum!) and do a Trader Joe's run. He'd never really shopped in one, and I was nervous (like when your friend meets your boyfriend, you know?) because I love it so much, and it was really crowded but he liked the food options (he's a health nut) and we got a good cartful of stuff. It's fun since almost half of what I buy is for both of us anyway, so it was nice to have his opinion, too.
And I was home at 6 for a night of settling in at home and watching A Bronx Tale (which was my homework assigment from my Italian Stallion). I talked to my mom for awhile, too, and it was a very relaxing end to the weekend.
ALSO, my last two bites have shown up at the beginning of the past two weeks (first on Tuesday after Labor Day, the next last Monday) so my new theories are that I either got them at Hike's (after a 36-hour delay period) or they were on the little sweaters I wear to work that are all stored in the same drawer at home. So I slept in long sleeves all weekend, I sprayed my natural oil sprays on the beds, and I didn't wear a little sweater today (though I brought one in case I got really cold.) So far, no bite. I HOPE HOPE HOPE we've cracked this case, friends. If I can go another week without one, I'll start laying off the precautions one by one to try to determine the cause. And no, that doctor's office never called me about setting up an appointment but my arm started clearing up really well with the Benedryl spray last week and is now totally fine, with just some residual discoloration.
Otherwise, I ate rather well this weekend (two burgers, I know, but one was bison, I didn't have fries with them and they were both topped with healthy things), I felt better about my body after going to the gym twice last week plus walking four miles to softball on Wednesday, and I feel good about my relationship and its future, if we could just stop this damn bickering. Does everyone do this? Help.
OHHH and I forgot the big news -- Hike heard on Friday that he was accepted into grad school for his MBA! Just when I was bugging him to fill out the application for a safety school. So that is good news for him and us and the future, but it'll be a tough four (?) years as far as time management, since he'll work full-time (at least for now) and have school two nights a week. But I want to support him and make it easier for him, and I hope I can be patient. This means we'll be able to better figure out how and when our relationship will grow over the next few years. It also means he won't be able to come to Scotland with me for Britch's wedding, but I knew that was a possibility. I'm disappointed in the short-term, but it's for the best. And it'll be cheaper if only one of us is going, too -- only $2,000 instead of more. So it's good news! Also scary, but good, right?
Happy Sleepy Mondays, everyone.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Lady's Night
I actually have NO PLANS tonight, and while I tried (and failed) to connect with some grrlfriends that I haven't seen recently, I'm sort of happy it worked out this way. It's been way too long since I've had a weekend-night-date with myself. Hike has a boys' steakhouse dinner at Peter Luger's to (again) celebrate his brother's birthday with a different group of friends, so I'm planning on heading home, hitting the gym again (I went last night!) and then running some small errands on my block before showering and climbing into bed to watch True Blood Season 3 on my laptop. Could there be a better home-alone plan? I think not. OH and I will make TJ's Butternut Squash Triangoli for dinner with a squash/herb sauce that I'll invent (and walnuts.) PERFECT.
And then, if all goes according to plan, my prodigal boyfriend will return to me so that I don't have to sleep alone, since I think he might be a spider repellent. (That or I'm getting bitten at his house...tbd.)
I'm very excited. I've also been a bit neurotic with him lately, admittedly, so I probably could use some me time.
Right, and on the gym topic, I am really sick of feeling so heavy and guilty for gaining weight again, so mama needs to get back on some serious track with my exercise and diet. It's going to be hard to eat out and make wise decisions, but I'm trying (and eating lots of fish. That is not a euphemism.) But I have been off the smokes for a couple of weeks now again, and it's not so bad as long as I remember my lozenges. And my broken-out chin is clearing up again. I went back on the Proactiv out of desperation, and I'm using up what I have until it's gone, and then I'll use this Dermologica MediBac stuff that my last facialist recommended. She also gave me samples, and it seemed to help right away, so I feel good about the switch. Hopefully I will no longer need a product that is endorsed on MTV every morning for preteens.
So that is the status, folks. Happy weekends!
And then, if all goes according to plan, my prodigal boyfriend will return to me so that I don't have to sleep alone, since I think he might be a spider repellent. (That or I'm getting bitten at his house...tbd.)
I'm very excited. I've also been a bit neurotic with him lately, admittedly, so I probably could use some me time.
Right, and on the gym topic, I am really sick of feeling so heavy and guilty for gaining weight again, so mama needs to get back on some serious track with my exercise and diet. It's going to be hard to eat out and make wise decisions, but I'm trying (and eating lots of fish. That is not a euphemism.) But I have been off the smokes for a couple of weeks now again, and it's not so bad as long as I remember my lozenges. And my broken-out chin is clearing up again. I went back on the Proactiv out of desperation, and I'm using up what I have until it's gone, and then I'll use this Dermologica MediBac stuff that my last facialist recommended. She also gave me samples, and it seemed to help right away, so I feel good about the switch. Hopefully I will no longer need a product that is endorsed on MTV every morning for preteens.
So that is the status, folks. Happy weekends!
Monday, June 6, 2011
I'm Getting Too Old for this Sh*t
Interlovers! Hello! How are we on this sunny Monday? I hear it's gorgeous outside...and it seems that way from my window. (I don't go outside, especially since I'm re-quitting smoking after a short relapse.)
Well, this was a weekend. I mostly love sharing a social life with Hike, as we get to do all sorts of fun things and we're integrating our lives pretty well, but lately it's been very busy with his side of plans and I need a rest. Yes, I like resting more than the average 29-year-old, but so what, who cares? Anyway, here's what happened.
Friday I had a lady-doc appointment at 1 pm in Astoria, so after waiting for 90 minutes and then waiting another 30 for a blood test (I figured it was time to get tested for HIV. So fun, right? I have no reason to worry, but I don't remember the last time I was checked. I like to be sure of these things.), I went home and immediately started in on the three large loads of laundry that had been waiting around for washing (all the sheets and towels from the parental visit plus my stuff), and then fixed the broken medicine cabinet (which had collapsed on Hike when he was peeing at 4 am last Wednesday, poor thing), did a half-manicure on myself, then got showered and dressed up to head into the city at 7:30 for Hike's brother's 30th birthday party. We had a big crew of the boys' high school friends (many of whom I'd met before), and then after our butter-soaked dinner, we went to Hudson Terrace. And guess what? His sister-in-law had decided to commit to bottle service, since that's the only way they'd give us a reservation -- but she didn't tell any of the party guests. Whatever, we made the most of it and drank a lot alot ALOT of vodka. And shouted at each other since we could barely hear anything. And Hike and I danced a bit, which was very fun. It ended up being really enjoyable (especially dancing with the open-roof, so under the night sky!) but I don't remember getting home very well. And Saturday was a day of puking and napping, of course. I was so dead.
So Saturday night I manage to get dressed again without falling over (barely) and we go to Hike's mom's and then out to dinner in Huntington with the whole crew (Franny, mom, bf, bro, sis-in-law, us) and the restaurant was LOVELY. I felt better after eating something, too. After dinner, we put in our appearance at his best friend's girlfriend's suprise birthday party at that restaurant's bar. We nursed one drink each (it was an open bar that we sadly could not take advantage of) and then said our goodbye's, got some Ralph's Italian Ices, sat on a bench to eat them, and then headed back to his house to play some more of our video game and crash.
Sunday was up with an alarm so we could be all cleaned up in time to go back out to LI for a fancy brunch buffet with his bro and sis-in-law again and his father and stepmother and the sis-in-law's parents. It was to celebrate the boys' birthdays, as both were recently, and we went back for plate after plate (raw bar! omelette station! cream puffs!) Then it was back to Dad & step-mom's house for chatting and presents. We got back to Astoria around 7 pm, worn out and sleepy. (Plus I was half-teary all day as I'd started my period.)
Anyway, lots of good family time, of course, but lots of diamond-ring comparing on Sunday and wedding-picture looking and talk of MONEY and man, I feel poor around these people, but I also feel pressure. Like, I'm mostly fine that I want my whole wedding situation to be more affordable (so we can buy a house someday, of course), but these ladies make me feel pretty intimidated. It's going to be tough, I think, to make everyone happy, but I shouldn't be worrying about that now. Still, a day like that is psychically challenging. Otherwise it was a nice weekend, and I had lots of silly fun with Hike throughout, but I'm looking forward to some more alone time and down time next weekend (before a wedding trip the following one.)
Tomorrow we're going to see Bridesmaids, too, and I can't wait! Then Wednesday is softball (and it's supposed to be HOTTT) and Thursday he'll probably just come over for dinner, then phew, it's Friday again.
And tonight. I finally have a chance to get a pedicure and wax and stuff, so it's time for that. Of course I keep putting on weight from all this social eating, but when will I exercise? No idea. I have to figure out a better plan.
Wellll thanks for listening, pals. Until next time.
Well, this was a weekend. I mostly love sharing a social life with Hike, as we get to do all sorts of fun things and we're integrating our lives pretty well, but lately it's been very busy with his side of plans and I need a rest. Yes, I like resting more than the average 29-year-old, but so what, who cares? Anyway, here's what happened.
Friday I had a lady-doc appointment at 1 pm in Astoria, so after waiting for 90 minutes and then waiting another 30 for a blood test (I figured it was time to get tested for HIV. So fun, right? I have no reason to worry, but I don't remember the last time I was checked. I like to be sure of these things.), I went home and immediately started in on the three large loads of laundry that had been waiting around for washing (all the sheets and towels from the parental visit plus my stuff), and then fixed the broken medicine cabinet (which had collapsed on Hike when he was peeing at 4 am last Wednesday, poor thing), did a half-manicure on myself, then got showered and dressed up to head into the city at 7:30 for Hike's brother's 30th birthday party. We had a big crew of the boys' high school friends (many of whom I'd met before), and then after our butter-soaked dinner, we went to Hudson Terrace. And guess what? His sister-in-law had decided to commit to bottle service, since that's the only way they'd give us a reservation -- but she didn't tell any of the party guests. Whatever, we made the most of it and drank a lot alot ALOT of vodka. And shouted at each other since we could barely hear anything. And Hike and I danced a bit, which was very fun. It ended up being really enjoyable (especially dancing with the open-roof, so under the night sky!) but I don't remember getting home very well. And Saturday was a day of puking and napping, of course. I was so dead.
So Saturday night I manage to get dressed again without falling over (barely) and we go to Hike's mom's and then out to dinner in Huntington with the whole crew (Franny, mom, bf, bro, sis-in-law, us) and the restaurant was LOVELY. I felt better after eating something, too. After dinner, we put in our appearance at his best friend's girlfriend's suprise birthday party at that restaurant's bar. We nursed one drink each (it was an open bar that we sadly could not take advantage of) and then said our goodbye's, got some Ralph's Italian Ices, sat on a bench to eat them, and then headed back to his house to play some more of our video game and crash.
Sunday was up with an alarm so we could be all cleaned up in time to go back out to LI for a fancy brunch buffet with his bro and sis-in-law again and his father and stepmother and the sis-in-law's parents. It was to celebrate the boys' birthdays, as both were recently, and we went back for plate after plate (raw bar! omelette station! cream puffs!) Then it was back to Dad & step-mom's house for chatting and presents. We got back to Astoria around 7 pm, worn out and sleepy. (Plus I was half-teary all day as I'd started my period.)
Anyway, lots of good family time, of course, but lots of diamond-ring comparing on Sunday and wedding-picture looking and talk of MONEY and man, I feel poor around these people, but I also feel pressure. Like, I'm mostly fine that I want my whole wedding situation to be more affordable (so we can buy a house someday, of course), but these ladies make me feel pretty intimidated. It's going to be tough, I think, to make everyone happy, but I shouldn't be worrying about that now. Still, a day like that is psychically challenging. Otherwise it was a nice weekend, and I had lots of silly fun with Hike throughout, but I'm looking forward to some more alone time and down time next weekend (before a wedding trip the following one.)
Tomorrow we're going to see Bridesmaids, too, and I can't wait! Then Wednesday is softball (and it's supposed to be HOTTT) and Thursday he'll probably just come over for dinner, then phew, it's Friday again.
And tonight. I finally have a chance to get a pedicure and wax and stuff, so it's time for that. Of course I keep putting on weight from all this social eating, but when will I exercise? No idea. I have to figure out a better plan.
Wellll thanks for listening, pals. Until next time.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
If I Were a Boy...
Wow, so I'm posting like twice a month now? That's sad, but I'm not ready to walk away yet! It's cathartic, right?
So let's see...the weekend before last, my parents came to visit and we had a lovely time. We had dinner in the city on Thursday, then Friday we hung out during the day (manis/pedis for the ladies) and then went to The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria on Friday night -- free from 4-8 pm! It was really interesting, and there was much more to see than I expected. It's really interactive, too, so we ended up staying longer than we planned, and then rushed home to eat a late supper since we were starving by then. Saturday Hike's family (mom, mom's bf, and Grandma Fran) came over for brunch, and everyone got along really well. It was lots of fun and chattering and his family loved my apartment and the food and everything, so I call it a success! Saturday night we were lucky enough to get my firm's Yankees tickets, so we saw the Yankees/Mets game and it was a great cap to the visit. The folks left early Sunday morning to drive back in time for work/school on Monday, so it was short but a very sweet visit.
Last week was full of movies (Thor, meh), softball, and catching up with Hike (unchaperoned, I mean), and then this past weekend was full of very masculine events. Friday night was the Elks Lodge wrestling event in Elmhurst, Queens, which is probably exactly what it sounds like. (The tickets were a part of his birthday present earlier this month, along with the New York documentary by Ric Burns, brother of Ken.) It was entertaining but too long for me at four hours. I can be a good sport for any event once, though I'm not sure I'll need to see wrestling ever again in my life. (Though for anyone who knows wrestling stuff, Mick Foley was there, and so was Sid Vicious -- both are past-their-prime wrestling royalty, apparently.)
Saturday we woke up and headed to Long Beach for some sun time! It was gorgeous and so nice to be on the beach, especially one as uncrowded as Long Beach. We laid around and even played with the Frisbee for awhile. Afterwards we grabbed a late lunch in Rockville Center (Long Island), then I finally tried Ralph's Italian Ices (the cream ice, which is like Italian ice and ice cream together), then we drove around a bit looking at the nice houses, as we'd been talking about how RC would be a great place to live and settle with kids, though it's rather pricey. But it's a goal.
Saturday night we went to Gleason's, a local bar, to eat some more and watch UFC with his friend Yoshi, so more man sports for me! Sunday we relaxed a lot, watching some Civil War documentary (Ken Burns' this time). Then we went our separate ways for awhile (nap time!) and he came over for dinner, then we went back to his apartment to play this video game that I actually ended up really liking. It's got some Myst-like features, so it was fun to help him solve the puzzle-y stuff, though the occasional gun fights were less entertaining as I didn't have the controller. But still, ADDICTING.
Then Monday we picked up Frannie on our way to his mom's for a BBQ! I made a Mexican Bean Salad and we had all sorts of grilled meats and stuff, and sat on the back patio and relaxed. It was just perfect for Memorial Day, and the weekend as a whole felt really long and relaxing, like a true break. It was great! Oh, and his mom put up one of those cheesy photo frame collections in the living room with a quote about FAMILY, and it's got at least two pictures of me with the rest o' the fam in it. So I guess it's official?
Now this week will be short, and I have another softball double-header tonight, then tomorrow Hike will come over, Thursday is Harpie dinner, and this weekend is pretty booked with his social calendar stuff, though hopefully we can get back to the beach soon. I feel so mellow lately -- for me, at least.
Well, friends, I hope you are all well and haven't given up on me.
So let's see...the weekend before last, my parents came to visit and we had a lovely time. We had dinner in the city on Thursday, then Friday we hung out during the day (manis/pedis for the ladies) and then went to The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria on Friday night -- free from 4-8 pm! It was really interesting, and there was much more to see than I expected. It's really interactive, too, so we ended up staying longer than we planned, and then rushed home to eat a late supper since we were starving by then. Saturday Hike's family (mom, mom's bf, and Grandma Fran) came over for brunch, and everyone got along really well. It was lots of fun and chattering and his family loved my apartment and the food and everything, so I call it a success! Saturday night we were lucky enough to get my firm's Yankees tickets, so we saw the Yankees/Mets game and it was a great cap to the visit. The folks left early Sunday morning to drive back in time for work/school on Monday, so it was short but a very sweet visit.
Last week was full of movies (Thor, meh), softball, and catching up with Hike (unchaperoned, I mean), and then this past weekend was full of very masculine events. Friday night was the Elks Lodge wrestling event in Elmhurst, Queens, which is probably exactly what it sounds like. (The tickets were a part of his birthday present earlier this month, along with the New York documentary by Ric Burns, brother of Ken.) It was entertaining but too long for me at four hours. I can be a good sport for any event once, though I'm not sure I'll need to see wrestling ever again in my life. (Though for anyone who knows wrestling stuff, Mick Foley was there, and so was Sid Vicious -- both are past-their-prime wrestling royalty, apparently.)
Saturday we woke up and headed to Long Beach for some sun time! It was gorgeous and so nice to be on the beach, especially one as uncrowded as Long Beach. We laid around and even played with the Frisbee for awhile. Afterwards we grabbed a late lunch in Rockville Center (Long Island), then I finally tried Ralph's Italian Ices (the cream ice, which is like Italian ice and ice cream together), then we drove around a bit looking at the nice houses, as we'd been talking about how RC would be a great place to live and settle with kids, though it's rather pricey. But it's a goal.
Saturday night we went to Gleason's, a local bar, to eat some more and watch UFC with his friend Yoshi, so more man sports for me! Sunday we relaxed a lot, watching some Civil War documentary (Ken Burns' this time). Then we went our separate ways for awhile (nap time!) and he came over for dinner, then we went back to his apartment to play this video game that I actually ended up really liking. It's got some Myst-like features, so it was fun to help him solve the puzzle-y stuff, though the occasional gun fights were less entertaining as I didn't have the controller. But still, ADDICTING.
Then Monday we picked up Frannie on our way to his mom's for a BBQ! I made a Mexican Bean Salad and we had all sorts of grilled meats and stuff, and sat on the back patio and relaxed. It was just perfect for Memorial Day, and the weekend as a whole felt really long and relaxing, like a true break. It was great! Oh, and his mom put up one of those cheesy photo frame collections in the living room with a quote about FAMILY, and it's got at least two pictures of me with the rest o' the fam in it. So I guess it's official?
Now this week will be short, and I have another softball double-header tonight, then tomorrow Hike will come over, Thursday is Harpie dinner, and this weekend is pretty booked with his social calendar stuff, though hopefully we can get back to the beach soon. I feel so mellow lately -- for me, at least.
Well, friends, I hope you are all well and haven't given up on me.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Flyday
It's Friday! And I can barely stay awake! This week was very very long and I didn't go to bed as early as I should have on any night. I need to sleep by 10:30 at least three nights a week, and man, I'm feeling these 11:30 bedtimes now. I just need to make it 1.5 more hours till 5 pm now! Actually, then I can't go home because we're having a preventative exterminator visit, and I also made fun social plans to have happy hour and fondue in Carroll Gardens with Schmillie and co. As much as I hate getting home from Brooklyn at night, I also love the CG and want to live there, so it'll even out. AND then there's the giant bonus of seeing Schmillie. And the exciting risk of eating cheese fondue. Will my stomach explode? Stay tuned.
I'm feeling rather friend-lonely lately, though I know that's a natural aspect of pairing off and settling in at our advanced age, and also everyone is busy this time of year anyway. As long as my friendships are still healthy, I can wait for the QT, but I sometimes worry that I'm being neglectful or absent, and I hope I'm not. Anyway, so I try to reach out when I can, but it'll be nice to have some lady time (ohhh yeah) tonight. And I was able to have some last weekend, too, in the form of a leisurely Saturday drinking brunch with Schmeather and Schmannon in Astoria. I also feel so scheduled lately -- which is not a complaint, but I have less down time than I used to, and you know how mama needs her PJs on the couch nights. For mental health reasons. This week I did lots of laundry (including the bedroom curtains and dust ruffle) on Monday evening, then drove to JFK to pick up Hike from Vegas*, Tuesday I took him out for dinner for his birthday and then we did presents, Wednesday night I had softball and got home after 9, and then last night I had some time to myself and talked to my mom, then made dinner and Hike came over to relax with me. It was nice, but I still feel worn out!
*Um, my man looked pretty smokin' hot when he came back, tanner and in summer-y clothes and a backwards baseball hat. Since we started dating in the fall, I haven't seen him in his summer t-shirts that show off his biceps, and damn. Of course, this made me more concerned about his behavior while he was gone, because I now have some big trust issues, but all seems to be well. It sounds like it was a sausage-fest, and he said he didn't even speak to a girl while there. (Not because of me, they just weren't around any.) And I know he's a good man, but I have been wrong before. Anyway, I could just stare at him for hours, he looks so handsome. I feel lucky.
So yay, weekend again! I can't wait to not set the alarm tomorrow morning -- or Sunday, for that matter. Tomorrow night we're going to dinner with some of Hike's friends to celebrate his birthday more publicly, and then Sunday we may go to his mother's for his family celebration. (And I know what she's getting him, and I can't wait -- it's stuff that's going to make his bedroom a lot more comfortable for me. Because it's about me, of course.)
We've been arguing more this week, but we had a long, painful but productive fight/discussion on Wednesday night. He made a good point, that when we're discussing something and I'm upset with him, I really retreat and put up a wall, and he feels really alone and defenseless/defensive. This made a lot of sense to me, because I know when I feel hurt by something, I retract and protect myself, or try to, as there is already pain and I'm afraid of what's going to come -- like he'll leave me. But that's me not being committed enough or secure enough in the relationship, and I do need to trust him enough to have a productive argument as opposed to "look how wrong you are, and you can't touch me now..." So I am very glad that despite his masculine struggle to express himself sometimes, he pointed that out. I've been reassured (which I do need) that he's not going anywhere, and a fight isn't going to change his mind, and so hopefully I can be less in warrior mode when I feel slighted. I think that's a side effect of being independent for so many years -- I have to protect myself, right? But there should be a point where I trust him to do that, too. Anyway, deep thoughts. Love is challenging, but so worth it.
I suppose that's the life update. My parents are coming next weekend, and I can't wait! We won't have a lot of time, just Thurs eve - Sunday morning, but they haven't come to New York in a couple of years. And on Saturday they'll meet Hike's family, and I can't wait. I think everyone will like each other. I'll let you know how it goes, and whether Grandma Fran starts talking about sex at the brunch table. Here's hoping!
I'm feeling rather friend-lonely lately, though I know that's a natural aspect of pairing off and settling in at our advanced age, and also everyone is busy this time of year anyway. As long as my friendships are still healthy, I can wait for the QT, but I sometimes worry that I'm being neglectful or absent, and I hope I'm not. Anyway, so I try to reach out when I can, but it'll be nice to have some lady time (ohhh yeah) tonight. And I was able to have some last weekend, too, in the form of a leisurely Saturday drinking brunch with Schmeather and Schmannon in Astoria. I also feel so scheduled lately -- which is not a complaint, but I have less down time than I used to, and you know how mama needs her PJs on the couch nights. For mental health reasons. This week I did lots of laundry (including the bedroom curtains and dust ruffle) on Monday evening, then drove to JFK to pick up Hike from Vegas*, Tuesday I took him out for dinner for his birthday and then we did presents, Wednesday night I had softball and got home after 9, and then last night I had some time to myself and talked to my mom, then made dinner and Hike came over to relax with me. It was nice, but I still feel worn out!
*Um, my man looked pretty smokin' hot when he came back, tanner and in summer-y clothes and a backwards baseball hat. Since we started dating in the fall, I haven't seen him in his summer t-shirts that show off his biceps, and damn. Of course, this made me more concerned about his behavior while he was gone, because I now have some big trust issues, but all seems to be well. It sounds like it was a sausage-fest, and he said he didn't even speak to a girl while there. (Not because of me, they just weren't around any.) And I know he's a good man, but I have been wrong before. Anyway, I could just stare at him for hours, he looks so handsome. I feel lucky.
So yay, weekend again! I can't wait to not set the alarm tomorrow morning -- or Sunday, for that matter. Tomorrow night we're going to dinner with some of Hike's friends to celebrate his birthday more publicly, and then Sunday we may go to his mother's for his family celebration. (And I know what she's getting him, and I can't wait -- it's stuff that's going to make his bedroom a lot more comfortable for me. Because it's about me, of course.)
We've been arguing more this week, but we had a long, painful but productive fight/discussion on Wednesday night. He made a good point, that when we're discussing something and I'm upset with him, I really retreat and put up a wall, and he feels really alone and defenseless/defensive. This made a lot of sense to me, because I know when I feel hurt by something, I retract and protect myself, or try to, as there is already pain and I'm afraid of what's going to come -- like he'll leave me. But that's me not being committed enough or secure enough in the relationship, and I do need to trust him enough to have a productive argument as opposed to "look how wrong you are, and you can't touch me now..." So I am very glad that despite his masculine struggle to express himself sometimes, he pointed that out. I've been reassured (which I do need) that he's not going anywhere, and a fight isn't going to change his mind, and so hopefully I can be less in warrior mode when I feel slighted. I think that's a side effect of being independent for so many years -- I have to protect myself, right? But there should be a point where I trust him to do that, too. Anyway, deep thoughts. Love is challenging, but so worth it.
I suppose that's the life update. My parents are coming next weekend, and I can't wait! We won't have a lot of time, just Thurs eve - Sunday morning, but they haven't come to New York in a couple of years. And on Saturday they'll meet Hike's family, and I can't wait. I think everyone will like each other. I'll let you know how it goes, and whether Grandma Fran starts talking about sex at the brunch table. Here's hoping!
Friday, May 6, 2011
That Can't Be the Real Nickname
And now I feel gross and sick. But I think that's supposed to happen.
Pre-Mother's Day was a success last night! We brought his mom a card, a Visa gift card, and flowers, and then we brought a card and flowers for Grandma, and we got there and ate macaronis and gravy and hung out for a bit then drove his Grandma home on our way back. We always make sure she's inside OK, and she gave me $5 to buy myself a drink (she gave him $20 for gas money) and it was all so sweet. I was invited to go to lunch with the two ladies on Mother's Day since the sons are out of town, so I think I'll take them up on that. His mom said she'd call me.
And today she e-mails:
Dear [Hike] & [Stevie],
Thanks so much for coming to see me last night & for the beautiful flowers, card & gift card.
I really appreciate it.
You both are the best!!!
Love lots,
Mom
My mother away from home, really. It's very nice to be so close to them, but every once in awhile I get a "whoaaaa" feeling at how real and serious this is. But it's good. Now I just need to call my mom -- it's been awhile! But they'll be here in two weeks!
Anyway, so last night was a very happy "last night" with Hike before he leaves for a few days. We even witnessed a drunk driver smash/drive over three parked cars on my street (and got the plate number and called it in to 911 -- apparently there was a citizens' arrest of the guy a few blocks over!) I mean, that part was bad, but the way everybody on the street worked together and was standing around talking outside, plus the fact that the guy was caught made it rather touching. And scary, too. And then I hid a card about "missing you" in Hike's suitcase because sometimes I am an awesome gf, so I'm wondering when he'll find it! I bet there's a 30% chance he just won't find it, honestly. He is not an observant male.
I am counting down the hours until my facial tonight (3.5) and I'm so looking forward to this weekend, especially brunch tomorrow. Thankfully work is quiet today, too, so I'm sort of riding the Friday wave and working slowly but surely. Enjoy your Motherly Days, all!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
It's a Family Affair
Sometimes I marvel at my luck.
[Tuesday night, 11 pm, pre-sleep chatter]
Hike: Oh, we ordered flowers for [stepmom] for Mother's Day and had the card signed [Brother], [Wife], Hike and Stevie.
Me: Oh? Oh! That's great. Thanks for including me.
Hike: Well, it's from all of us. We're the kids.
As much as I should resist the urge, I can't help but compare this to other relationships, where I've had to fight really hard to meet the parents or feel involved or have my hand held. It still surprises me that it's so easy now, and that I got the same Easter gift from Grandma Fran as the actual grandkids did.
Since Hike and his brother will be flying to Vegas tomorrow for a weekend bachelor party, his poor mother will be without her precious Italian-American sons on Mother's Day. We're driving out east tonight to have dinner there and spend some time with her before he leaves, and we'll bring flowers and a present and he'll sign a mushy card (from both of us, too). I also mailed her a less personal (hi, she isn't really my mom) but still very heartfelt card that she'll get in the mail before Sunday, too. I was debating visiting her on Sunday but decided that would be too weird and I probably should not offer. We'll see if it comes up tonight, but otherwise I think the stuff with Hike is enough.
Oh, and my mom? I mailed her a mushy card with a homemade coupon (shut up) for a manicure when she comes to visit me in a few weeks. I am so excited! Now I just have to decide if I suck it up and sleep on the couch for three nights, or if I make it weird and sleep at Hike's. I haven't broached the subject yet.
It is weird to be more involved and in touch with his family than with mine, but part of that is just how his family operates compared to my own. I am enjoying having these close family relationships, and siblings that are friends, and cousins and grandchildren and big holiday dinners with people coming and going. It's rather new to me, but it's really comforting. I just wish my family lived closer so I could blend the two more. I'm so much looking forward to when his mom meets my parents in a few weeks -- then at least my mom can visualize where I am when I'm an adopted part of someone else's family.
Oh, and before you totally vomit because of how special this all is, I should say that I'm still navigating the calm waters of a stable relationship. I get really upset about any arguing, and I often wonder if I'm making the right choice in my life. I clearly have lost my faith in myself, so I pray a lot but can't tell what the answer is, and any negative signs really throw me for a loop. As Britch reminds me, I'm very black & white, so when Hike and I fight because someone snapped at someone else, and then there was a snap back, and it's all really dumb and just bickering, I still think this means that we're not meant for each other. I want to figure out why we're not being nicer to each other right now (probably we're taking each other for granted, which is why this Las Vegas trip comes at a good time for reminding), but I also want to not jump to the worst possible conclusions when we fight.
Recently someone asked us if we'd had our first fight, and I just laughed.
So yeah, we fight about stupid stuff, and we react similarly (which is to say with some temper), and I want to figure that out and get better at it. I also want to just CHILL OUT, as I feel like I'm on edge a lot lately and as soon as he says something that hits me funny, I forget that I love him and I lash out. I don't take a minute to give him the benefit of the doubt. That is my part of it and I need to get my head in a good place about it.
And that's what I'm thinking about lately. As much as I'll miss him this weekend, I'm very much looking forward to having some alone time. PLUS, I'm getting a facial tomorrow and then going home to relax afterwards, and then Saturday I have a late brunch at MexiQ with my dear lady friends, and then later in the afternoon/evening I'll go to Trader Joe's and hopefully also Target, so I can make good use of Hike's car and the emptier stores on a weekend night. Sunday is unplanned, but I could stand to do some laundry and maybe I'll go to church if I wake up at a good time. It's so wide and open and full of relaxation!
[Tuesday night, 11 pm, pre-sleep chatter]
Hike: Oh, we ordered flowers for [stepmom] for Mother's Day and had the card signed [Brother], [Wife], Hike and Stevie.
Me: Oh? Oh! That's great. Thanks for including me.
Hike: Well, it's from all of us. We're the kids.
As much as I should resist the urge, I can't help but compare this to other relationships, where I've had to fight really hard to meet the parents or feel involved or have my hand held. It still surprises me that it's so easy now, and that I got the same Easter gift from Grandma Fran as the actual grandkids did.
Since Hike and his brother will be flying to Vegas tomorrow for a weekend bachelor party, his poor mother will be without her precious Italian-American sons on Mother's Day. We're driving out east tonight to have dinner there and spend some time with her before he leaves, and we'll bring flowers and a present and he'll sign a mushy card (from both of us, too). I also mailed her a less personal (hi, she isn't really my mom) but still very heartfelt card that she'll get in the mail before Sunday, too. I was debating visiting her on Sunday but decided that would be too weird and I probably should not offer. We'll see if it comes up tonight, but otherwise I think the stuff with Hike is enough.
Oh, and my mom? I mailed her a mushy card with a homemade coupon (shut up) for a manicure when she comes to visit me in a few weeks. I am so excited! Now I just have to decide if I suck it up and sleep on the couch for three nights, or if I make it weird and sleep at Hike's. I haven't broached the subject yet.
It is weird to be more involved and in touch with his family than with mine, but part of that is just how his family operates compared to my own. I am enjoying having these close family relationships, and siblings that are friends, and cousins and grandchildren and big holiday dinners with people coming and going. It's rather new to me, but it's really comforting. I just wish my family lived closer so I could blend the two more. I'm so much looking forward to when his mom meets my parents in a few weeks -- then at least my mom can visualize where I am when I'm an adopted part of someone else's family.
Oh, and before you totally vomit because of how special this all is, I should say that I'm still navigating the calm waters of a stable relationship. I get really upset about any arguing, and I often wonder if I'm making the right choice in my life. I clearly have lost my faith in myself, so I pray a lot but can't tell what the answer is, and any negative signs really throw me for a loop. As Britch reminds me, I'm very black & white, so when Hike and I fight because someone snapped at someone else, and then there was a snap back, and it's all really dumb and just bickering, I still think this means that we're not meant for each other. I want to figure out why we're not being nicer to each other right now (probably we're taking each other for granted, which is why this Las Vegas trip comes at a good time for reminding), but I also want to not jump to the worst possible conclusions when we fight.
Recently someone asked us if we'd had our first fight, and I just laughed.
So yeah, we fight about stupid stuff, and we react similarly (which is to say with some temper), and I want to figure that out and get better at it. I also want to just CHILL OUT, as I feel like I'm on edge a lot lately and as soon as he says something that hits me funny, I forget that I love him and I lash out. I don't take a minute to give him the benefit of the doubt. That is my part of it and I need to get my head in a good place about it.
And that's what I'm thinking about lately. As much as I'll miss him this weekend, I'm very much looking forward to having some alone time. PLUS, I'm getting a facial tomorrow and then going home to relax afterwards, and then Saturday I have a late brunch at MexiQ with my dear lady friends, and then later in the afternoon/evening I'll go to Trader Joe's and hopefully also Target, so I can make good use of Hike's car and the emptier stores on a weekend night. Sunday is unplanned, but I could stand to do some laundry and maybe I'll go to church if I wake up at a good time. It's so wide and open and full of relaxation!
Monday, May 2, 2011
STYmied
I haven't quite managed to start working yet this morning, so I figured I'd go ahead and check in with you, friends.
I'm so out of it, as usual for a Monday morning. It doesn't help that I'm achy from some Saturday activity (I'll get to that in a bit) (don't be perverted) and my right eye hurts and has a red swollen part on the lower lid. Is this a sty? I'm going to look it up now... EW. Ok, it may be a sty but it does not look like a pimple or a boil...rather there is a hole in the lower, inner eyelid, a tiny one, and it hurts. So there.
Weekends! Weeks? How long has it been since I've talked to you? Things at work are clearing up significantly, since we hired a receptionist who started last week. She's young but sweet and sharp and I really like her, plus she's so eager to please that she's doing a great job, as opposed to our last, goth-chick burnout person who was rather slow and always wore black. It's a lovely change of pace. This means my feeling of drowning at work has been relieved and I'm fairly organized and have a neat to-do list on my desk -- in other words, I'm not stressed about work at the moment. Amazing.
So last week I walked home three times (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday), which felt good and tiring and made me feel a little more in control of this body. It's four miles home from our new office, so it's a good little hike. (Ha!) Tuesday night I saw Source Code with Hike, which was really interesting and suspenseful, and we had Thai beforehand. I had Veggies and Chicken with Peanut Sauce, which was delicious but probably not great for me with the peanut fat. Oh well, could be worse. Then Friday night we went to Red Lobster for dinner with his brother, and shhh, his brother saw a baby roach on the wall next to me and squashed it with a coaster. We told the waiter, who told the manager, who promptly moved us to a different table, comped all of our meals, and gave us free dessert. It was totally worth it, and since we moved, I didn't have the creepy-crawly-roaches crawling up my legs feeling! I was very impressed with their efforts to not have us Yelp about the incident. OH and I ordered the Broiled Seafood Platter, which was almost the healthiest option, and very delicious. I did have a few Cheddar Bay Biscuits, however, and once she offered a free dessert, the three of us split this chocolate chip lava cookie with ice cream (ZOMG), but I tried and behaved rather well. After dinner, his brother's wife joined us and we all saw Fast Five at the IMAX theater. SO FUN. It was just really entertaining and I'm so into Vin Diesel, I really can't help it. I loved it whenever he was on screen -- now if only he'd had a love scene like that one on the hood of a car in the first movie with Michelle Rodriguez. Swoon.
Saturday I woke up with a headache, probably from allergies and sleeping with the window open, so we relaxed then Hike left for the gym and I finished reading my book club book, finished the Series Finale of the Tudors on DVD, and napped briefly until I felt better. Then, as it was so nice out, I was inspired to do some weeding in the garden, and moving the big rocks and planting a few things. It felt nice to be out there, but man, I forgot how much the back of my legs hurt afterwards! I'm still so sore and stiff, and I think this is what it'll be like when I'm elderly. I should have stretched but I wasn't even thinking! In the early evening, Hike helped me take some stuff to the Salvation Army in Astoria, and then I got behind the wheel so we could do a test drive to JFK. I am going to pick him up next Monday night when he lands from Vegas, and I'm also going to have use of his car while he's gone (whoo), but as I hadn't driven in NYC since I first moved here, it seemed like a trial run wasn't a bad idea. It went really well ("you exceeded my lofty expectations," said he), even when he remembered I had to exit across three lanes at the last minute. And it felt so nice to drive again, except in the narrow part of the Grand Central right around Astoria. It's a little scary there.
Saturday night we met up with Hike's friend and his gf, and the four of us went for dinner in Long Island City at Masso. I drank these basil lime gimlets that were AMAZING, and I ordered salmon with a balsamic reduction and asparagus, though you can bet I wanted chicken parm or lasagna -- but it was good and filling and I felt very proud of my decision! Then the four of us went back to my apartment to play Scene It: 80s Edition, and Hike and I SMOKED them, and then it was to bed.
My firm had given me the Yankees tickets for Sunday afternoon, and it was a gorgeous warm, sunny day here. We took another couple, friends of mine in Astoria, and we had a nice relaxing afternoon, even though none of us were really Yankees fans (and Hike wore his Mets hat). I got a little sunburned, which was nice, and we left after the seventh inning to beat the traffic -- and were home in about 20 minutes, since it's so fast to drive from Astoria. Then some relaxing time at home with Hike while he watched the Celtics/Heat game and I sort of dozed, then we went grocery shopping and I made us turkey sandwiches for supper, and then he left and I settled in for bed and watched The Guardian before sleep. It was a little cliche but I really enjoyed it! And I also do love Costner, plus I have a crush on Ashton that never went away, so you know, win all around.
And that was my lovely, rather full weekend! Now if I could only buckle down at work and stop thinking about how irritating this eye problem is...grr. Tonight I'm going to get my nails did, and tomorrow night is book club and then dinner with Schmillie and Schmate, and then Hike will come over afterwards, then we're going to see his mom for an early Mother's Day celebration on Wednesday or Thursday, then he leaves for Vegas on Friday and I have scheduled a FACIAL [Oprah voice]. Saturday I have fun Astoria brunch plans with some ladeez, and then it's my much-anticipated Trader Joe's run, and that's about the extent of my plans. I may try for a Target trip while I have the car, too, but I'm going to run out of room to store all of my goodies in my apartment! He gets back on Monday night, so it'll be strange to sleep alone all weekend, but I think it'll be nice to have a little distance so we can remember how much we appreciate each other. A little absence to make the heart grow fonder, you know? As long as his absence doesn't involve any strip clubs, but he's given his word and is apparently not interested in them, anyway.
So that's what's up, folks. I'm doing a little better with the weight control, I'm doing a little worse with the smoking, and I'm trying to relax more and worry less. The fabric of my life, right?
I'm so out of it, as usual for a Monday morning. It doesn't help that I'm achy from some Saturday activity (I'll get to that in a bit) (don't be perverted) and my right eye hurts and has a red swollen part on the lower lid. Is this a sty? I'm going to look it up now... EW. Ok, it may be a sty but it does not look like a pimple or a boil...rather there is a hole in the lower, inner eyelid, a tiny one, and it hurts. So there.
Weekends! Weeks? How long has it been since I've talked to you? Things at work are clearing up significantly, since we hired a receptionist who started last week. She's young but sweet and sharp and I really like her, plus she's so eager to please that she's doing a great job, as opposed to our last, goth-chick burnout person who was rather slow and always wore black. It's a lovely change of pace. This means my feeling of drowning at work has been relieved and I'm fairly organized and have a neat to-do list on my desk -- in other words, I'm not stressed about work at the moment. Amazing.
So last week I walked home three times (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday), which felt good and tiring and made me feel a little more in control of this body. It's four miles home from our new office, so it's a good little hike. (Ha!) Tuesday night I saw Source Code with Hike, which was really interesting and suspenseful, and we had Thai beforehand. I had Veggies and Chicken with Peanut Sauce, which was delicious but probably not great for me with the peanut fat. Oh well, could be worse. Then Friday night we went to Red Lobster for dinner with his brother, and shhh, his brother saw a baby roach on the wall next to me and squashed it with a coaster. We told the waiter, who told the manager, who promptly moved us to a different table, comped all of our meals, and gave us free dessert. It was totally worth it, and since we moved, I didn't have the creepy-crawly-roaches crawling up my legs feeling! I was very impressed with their efforts to not have us Yelp about the incident. OH and I ordered the Broiled Seafood Platter, which was almost the healthiest option, and very delicious. I did have a few Cheddar Bay Biscuits, however, and once she offered a free dessert, the three of us split this chocolate chip lava cookie with ice cream (ZOMG), but I tried and behaved rather well. After dinner, his brother's wife joined us and we all saw Fast Five at the IMAX theater. SO FUN. It was just really entertaining and I'm so into Vin Diesel, I really can't help it. I loved it whenever he was on screen -- now if only he'd had a love scene like that one on the hood of a car in the first movie with Michelle Rodriguez. Swoon.
Saturday I woke up with a headache, probably from allergies and sleeping with the window open, so we relaxed then Hike left for the gym and I finished reading my book club book, finished the Series Finale of the Tudors on DVD, and napped briefly until I felt better. Then, as it was so nice out, I was inspired to do some weeding in the garden, and moving the big rocks and planting a few things. It felt nice to be out there, but man, I forgot how much the back of my legs hurt afterwards! I'm still so sore and stiff, and I think this is what it'll be like when I'm elderly. I should have stretched but I wasn't even thinking! In the early evening, Hike helped me take some stuff to the Salvation Army in Astoria, and then I got behind the wheel so we could do a test drive to JFK. I am going to pick him up next Monday night when he lands from Vegas, and I'm also going to have use of his car while he's gone (whoo), but as I hadn't driven in NYC since I first moved here, it seemed like a trial run wasn't a bad idea. It went really well ("you exceeded my lofty expectations," said he), even when he remembered I had to exit across three lanes at the last minute. And it felt so nice to drive again, except in the narrow part of the Grand Central right around Astoria. It's a little scary there.
Saturday night we met up with Hike's friend and his gf, and the four of us went for dinner in Long Island City at Masso. I drank these basil lime gimlets that were AMAZING, and I ordered salmon with a balsamic reduction and asparagus, though you can bet I wanted chicken parm or lasagna -- but it was good and filling and I felt very proud of my decision! Then the four of us went back to my apartment to play Scene It: 80s Edition, and Hike and I SMOKED them, and then it was to bed.
My firm had given me the Yankees tickets for Sunday afternoon, and it was a gorgeous warm, sunny day here. We took another couple, friends of mine in Astoria, and we had a nice relaxing afternoon, even though none of us were really Yankees fans (and Hike wore his Mets hat). I got a little sunburned, which was nice, and we left after the seventh inning to beat the traffic -- and were home in about 20 minutes, since it's so fast to drive from Astoria. Then some relaxing time at home with Hike while he watched the Celtics/Heat game and I sort of dozed, then we went grocery shopping and I made us turkey sandwiches for supper, and then he left and I settled in for bed and watched The Guardian before sleep. It was a little cliche but I really enjoyed it! And I also do love Costner, plus I have a crush on Ashton that never went away, so you know, win all around.
And that was my lovely, rather full weekend! Now if I could only buckle down at work and stop thinking about how irritating this eye problem is...grr. Tonight I'm going to get my nails did, and tomorrow night is book club and then dinner with Schmillie and Schmate, and then Hike will come over afterwards, then we're going to see his mom for an early Mother's Day celebration on Wednesday or Thursday, then he leaves for Vegas on Friday and I have scheduled a FACIAL [Oprah voice]. Saturday I have fun Astoria brunch plans with some ladeez, and then it's my much-anticipated Trader Joe's run, and that's about the extent of my plans. I may try for a Target trip while I have the car, too, but I'm going to run out of room to store all of my goodies in my apartment! He gets back on Monday night, so it'll be strange to sleep alone all weekend, but I think it'll be nice to have a little distance so we can remember how much we appreciate each other. A little absence to make the heart grow fonder, you know? As long as his absence doesn't involve any strip clubs, but he's given his word and is apparently not interested in them, anyway.
So that's what's up, folks. I'm doing a little better with the weight control, I'm doing a little worse with the smoking, and I'm trying to relax more and worry less. The fabric of my life, right?
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