Partying Like It's 1899

Irene is a beyotch. Because she's left us with no power. Since Saturday. 


It's Wednesday. That's 4 days. FOURDAYS!


Expected power restoration? Friday night/Saturday morning. 


To say that I've lost my shit is an understatement. We've thrown out a fridge/freezer full of food, been hacking at the 3 downed trees in our yard, taken cold showers and watched Wiggles chase his tale for entertainment. Thank God for friends that have let me have a 5PM hot shower yesterday and today.


How does this make me feel? Completely out of control and anxiety-ridden. I'm a planner and this is certainly not in my plan.


It could be worse. I know. But it still feels awful right now. 

Pinterest Projects Completed

Have I mentioned recently that Pinterest has taken over my life? Well it has. I've pinned approximately 1038472 projects since I got my account. And over the last week, I've decided that it's time to take some action and get started. 


So, it's been Arts and Crafts time every night this week at my casa. And there have been casualties. Such as my pointer finger that's suffered a blistered burn from the hot glue gun. Hubs has been laughing at me every night as I sit at the table by myself and spit out profanities as I burn myself. Sad. 


Wanna see my projects? Do ya? Do ya? I knew you did. These are only a few. I've had a few fails. And I have several more on tap.


First up, felt flower wreath. 

It's an understatement to say that I've become obsessed with making felt flowers. Check my pinboard to see several tutorials. 

"Mommy, why do you love your glue gun more than us?"

I bought a giant can of chalkboard paint, so I scoured Pinterest to see what I could paint. I got this little jar at Goodwill for $1, painted a square, attached some ribbon and now I have a cut little candy jar. 

Now, excuse me while I go ready myself for more Arts and Crafts night. 

Earfquake?!

Mark this down. August 23, 2011. Earthquake. In Maryland. 


Honestly, I thought it was construction on our building, until everyone else came running out of their office. Here were my stream of thoughts at that moment:


"Stupid window washers must have fallen off the roof. Wait, why is my computer still shaking? Eff! Is this an earthquake? No. Yes? Yes! Wait. What do I do? Should I hide under my desk? Should I go outside? What did we do in elementary school? I must take my purse and lunchbox. Because maybe we'll get to go home early. I need a vessel to pack my lunch in for tomorrow."


Phew! Lots of thoughts, right? Then, it hit me. Perhaps, this is the beginning of the end. Because I'm terrified of the world ending. There, I said it. Call me the crazy lady. I won't watch 2012 or any of those end of the world/Doomsday type movies. They give me anxiety. 


On my way home? Mass hysteria on the Beltway. It was like, the earthquake hit and suddenly everyone forgot how to drive. Most people that were driving at the time said they didn't even feel it. But it didn't stop several genius drivers from getting in enough accidents to cause an absolute wall of cars on my way home. My normally 30 minute commute took an hour and 15 minutes. Barf. I thought someone would have come up with teleportation by now. 


Luckily, nothing fell off the walls/shelves. The pups seem to not be traumatized. And we didn't see any major cracks in the house. 


It certainly added some excitement to the day, but I'd rather that never happen again. Mmkay? 

Fitness Friday

This week, Fitness Friday is a little light. Why, you ask? Because I have a case of some serious allergies/headcold that's been making it a little hard to breathe while working out. Meaning my fitness has suffered.


I did manage to get in 2 days of running (Monday and Tuesday) before my phlegm took hold. Hopefully, I'll be back on track by Sunday. Tomorrow is Beer Olympics (which requires physical activity, but is negated by the beer consumption.) 


Next week I've got to take my running game to a new level. Because next Saturday is the 5K. And, to be honest, it's not looking good for me. I might be able to run half of it. But at least I'll try, right? Have I mentioned recently that running sucks? I have such a sparkling positive attitude this week, right? Where's all my positive energy? 


I think it got sucked up into my sinuses. 

Be Kind: RSVP

Let's talk about something that's been getting my panties into six different bunches this week. RSVPing. 


You're invited to a party, where you're kindly asked to answer whether or not you'll be in attendance. You've been given a month's worth of advanced notice. And asked several times to please respond so that said hubs and I said party hosts will be able to plan for food and beverages accordingly. 


Because, as much as I love pasta salad, I don't want an extra pound of it sitting around my house for a week. And I'm making Oreo cookie pops and Lord knows we don't need a jar full of extras hanging around. Because they'll end up in my mouth, and subsequently on my arse. 


And because I'd rather not spend $100 in extra beer/food if I don't have to. And since this is an actual event rather than a simple backyard BBQ, it requires extra work. Like props, game set-up, bracket-making and the like. 


It's the day before the event and I only have a handful of RSVPs. And a big smattering of line teedlers (yes, that's the technical term for people that have not yet decided on their event attendance.) 


It's increased my stress level, to the point where hubs made up a new word for my attitude: Pritch. That's a combo of bitch and prick. Which came out while I was a raving lunatic running around Home Depot yesterday.


Though, I have the utmost faith in you all that you take the initiative to RSVP for the sake of the host/hostess, remind your un-RSVPing friends that it's not nice to leave a girl hanging. Because someone's sanity is at stake.

Team Nana Rides Again

It's T-minus 9 days until the big 5K. How am I feeling about it? Terrible. I was doing great before vacation. Running a mile straight. Then, I went to Costa Rica and came back a slug. My legs don't work. I feel like I'm running with weights in my socks.


But I have to keep on keeping on. I've run twice this week. Both major disasters. I waved to a grandma in a wheelchair who was lapping me (not really but that's what it felt like.)


I just have to remember that this is all for good reason (minus decreasing the fat on my ass.) This is the second year that my family and I have participated in the Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk. Here's the post with pictures from last year. 

Here's my last photo with her 
And here's the poem I wrote that was read at her funeral

And though lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer out there, it's still the most undetectable. Screenings are outrageously expensive...even for those people with high risk factors. Typically, it isn't found until it's spread to other organs, like the brain. Which is how we found out about Nana. 


And though I'm not one to ask for money, I will put this out there. Please consider donating to our team. This money goes to the National Lung Cancer Partnership, which promotes education and awareness about lung cancer. 


Thanks for your support!

And There Were Monkeys!

While in Costa Rica, hubs and I decided to try and be adventurous and partake in one of the famed activities...ziplining. We were excited, nervous, and wetting our pants a little bit when we got up to the first line. But after that first ride, you could definitely understand the thrill of it all. 

Here we are suiting up to get on the lines. 

Yep, that's me zipping headfirst into the jungle. They call this pose the "Superman," and I was one of handful of people that dared to try it. 

Here's hubs zipping his way to the bottom of the jungle.

But, seriously, the best part of ziplining was waiting for us at the end. Because, there were monkeys. Not just any monkeys. Monkeys we could play with! 

Hubs and his baby monkey face, Manolo. Adorable doesn't even begin to describe it. 

These little guys were everywhere. Jumping on our heads. Trying to pick our pockets. Examining our hair to see if we were hiding any bugs. And snuggling, of course. Hubs and I were trying to figure out a way to get one back home with us. But we didn't think Customs would like that. 

Seriously, the best part of our trip, by far. 

Resort People Watching

Hubs started a blog. Yes, I know. He wants to be just like me. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. 


Seriously though, he's effing hilarious. Like, make you spit your drink out out of your mouth and piss your pants hilarious. 


So, instead of writing a post myself about the people watching we did while on vacation, I'd like to defer you to his blog for this. Because it's epic. You'll LOL. That's right. LOL. Maybe pee a little like I did.


However you react, have a read. You won't be sorry. 

Costa Rica - Pura Vida

I'm backkkk! Yes, that's right. Back in the good 'ole U.S. of A. After a week in paradise (minus humidity and some bug bites), hubs and I have arrived safely back in MD. How was Costa Rica? Amazing. Should you go? Yes. I survived the plane ride (which was shorter than I thought.) 1.5 hours to Hotlanta, 3.5 hours to Liberia, Costa Rica. And the Liberia Airport? One gate. No joke. And no AC. Also no joke. 


Some pics, you ask? Why, yes, I took plenty. We had some adventures. Some relaxation. Lots of people watching (including nicknames we had for several groups...more on that later.) There were monkeys, ziplines, sun, sand, water, lots of food (hello, 5 pounds - oof) and frozen cocktails (and unfrozen cocktails.) 


To start, here are some scenes from the resort and beyond. I'll be posting pics over several days (only the best ones) because I have too many for one post! 

The Costa Rican motto: Pura Vida (Pure Life) - So true of this country!

Next post? Costa Rican adventures. Complete with monkeys (!!!) 

Worry is for Weiners...Like Me

Tomorrow, we finally leave for Costa Rica! Am I excited? Yes. Nervous? Yes. Why? Because...


1. I hate to fly. It gives me anxiety for several reasons that you don't even want me to go into. But thank God I'm loaded up with Ativan. 


2. Hubs and I have separate seats on the way back, which makes me sad face. Though I traveled alone a lot for my last job, if hubs is with me, I'd really like to be sitting next to him. 


3. Foreign travel gives me anxiety. I've only ever been to Mexico, which was like an extension of the US. 


4. I'm worried about the weather. It rains every day in Costa Rica between April and November. Some people say it's only for an hour or two. Others say it can be all day. But we really wanted to take vacation now because we never know where hubs' job will take him next and when. 


I sound like an effing crazy person, eh? I'm a worrier. That's just who I am. And I'll worry until we're landed, at the resort, sipping cocktails by the pool. 

Source: pedlars.co.uk via Heather on Pinterest

At any rate, I'll be MIA for the next week. Unless of course, I get the urge to blog while I'm there. But there's only WIFI in the lobby, so that chances of that happening are slim to none. 

Wish me luck and sunshine!

A Refreshing Dip in the Pool

This weekend, the temperature dropped to a brisk 96 degrees here in the great state of Maryland. High humidity and a 100 percent chance of me sitting my rear in the AC. I'm not made for outdoor activities, unless there's something to significantly cool me down. Like, say, a pool.


Hubs and I made the executive decision this weekend that it was high time we got one of our very own. So we did. 

See! Our pool! Do you love the rainbow and ladybug as much as I do? This cost us a whole $10 at our local Walmart. We thought for some reason it was smaller. But turns out, it was big enough to fit the whole family. Hubs, me, Peanut and a reluctant Wiggles. We all hung out on the deck, sitting in our pool. What do you suppose the neighbors thought?

It was just a warm up to the real pools we'll be lounging next to in Costa Rica in t-minus 3 days!