Play by Play Day - AKA Creeper's Paradise

Do you ever think about what you do in timeline form? I do. I love the daily little details, I'm creepy like that.

These events took place on Monday, the second jerkiest day of the week after Tuesday. And I took all of the photos with my iPhone, because you need to fly by the seat of your pants when you do this.

6:20 a.m.: Alarm goes off, hit snooze three times before getting out of bed. I've heard that people who hit snooze have a tougher day ahead of them. Obviously I don't care. And also, it's Monday, so waking up a half hour late seems totally acceptable. Finally drag ass out of bed at 6:55, shower, throw on a dress and mascara (while dogs unmake recently made bed and continue sleeping on it), run downstairs.

7:18 a.m. - 7:40 a.m.: Fill up water bottle, give dogs treats after MFD lets them in from the yard, pack the day's food in bag, run back upstairs for the book I forgot, feel like spitting on asshole pine cones everywhere, leave for train station. Roar into train station, park, haul ass to the train platform, wait. The 7:37 is always late.

7:40 - 8:15: Read books and phone on the way in, shoot out of the train like a bat out of hell when it pulls into my station, jog up the 30 steps, and beeline to DD to use a gift card.

8:17-20: Shuffle down the hall,  up and out of the station and emerge to Billy Penn. Check to see if the Preacher is in his position (read about him here and here), say hello to my favorite Homeless for Housing newspaper salesman.

8:21: 17th floor, please. Check out how our elevators have no number buttons inside. And also how thrilled I look for Monday. And my bag of shoes under my desk.  Commence work things.

12 noon - 1:00 p.m. goes like this:

1- Half mile walk to Trader Joe's to smell the peonies / 2 - Went for organic chicken stock and had to try the face lotion with antioxidants. They could sell cat pee and slap the label antioxidant on it and I'd buy it. / 3 - I wish I had that bag / 4 - Let me just jay walk / 5 - half mile later, back into the revolving door / 6 - that left a mark / 7 - let me put that down, I'm sweating / 8 - Do I have sweaty pits? No. Thank God. / 9 - salad with Trader Joe's champagne pear vinaigrette

3:10 p.m.: Afternoon green tea blend and watermelon

5:00 p.m. - Leave office to catch the 5:11.

1 - Through those doors lies freedom / 2 - Got to check for this guy every day (read about him here) / 3 - Preacher's still preaching / 4 - Mmm, Moe's smells good. Must not purchase, have food at home / 5 - Shit, is it time to buy my monthly pass already? No, it's just Monday. / 6 - You do not need another iced coffee. / 7 - Six plus months later I cannot get over the weirdness of YoShi / 8 - Oh good, my favorite! People just standing at the top of 23 steps. Not a hazard at all / 9 - F, the platform is already too crowded for me to get a good seat.

5:11 - 5:45: Squished on the train. We stop outside of 30th near the zoo as always to let Amtrak trains through. And as always, there are men lined up three minutes before their stop so they can rush out the door and butt in front of everyone. I need to take the shuttle to the parking lot today since I have the freaking Trader Joe's heavy bag.

6:00 p.m. Arrive home. The dogs demand to be fed immediately. Dishes in the sink, SUCK. Load dishwasher.

6:10 p.m. Change clothes, change sheets, pick up top floor, watch dogs wrestle on the bed.

6:30 - 7 p.m. Throw towels in laundry, sit out with dogs, pick up living room and dining room.

7 - 8 p.m. Watch The Killing while eating leftovers. So good this season - both the show and the leftovers. Touch up mani and pedi while this is going down.

8 p.m. Debbie arrives with bracelets by Debbie Rae Designs to sell at Relay For Life. When she leaves, I open mail, including this month's Ipsy.

8:10 - 11:15: Veep Veep Veep. Followed by magazine reading and bed at 11:45.

A day in the life, dunzo.

Happy happy birthday to the Dalaimomma today. Have a beautiful day mother! I love you. Read Mom's birthday blog from last year here.

Linking up for Random Wednesday and Whatever Wednesday

On Failing

There is value in failure. When you fail, 

1. It means you tested your limits. You're growing and changing.

2. It inspires introspection - where did you go wrong? How can you do it differently and better next time?

3. It gives you a new challenge and opportunity to approach the situation from a different angle.

4. It proves that you're human and it keeps you honest.

5. It provides amusement. Some of the biggest laughs I've had at my own expense were at my major fails. The other biggest laughs I've had at my own expense were my biggest falls, but I digress. Don't take yourself so seriously. Have a laugh, brush it off, and get up and try again.

Fall down seven times, stand up eight, mofos. It's not a Chinese proverb for nothing.

For all of you who like creeping on the ins and outs of daily life, I'll be chronicling my Monday from start to finish with pics tomorrow. Check it out.

Have a good one!

the father's day weekend that was

Friday night consisted of hausfrauing and food prep  - I lead the glamorous life, pigeons.

I made key lime pie, requiring squeezing eleventy billion key limes (my Dad's favorite) - I would reduce the zest by a little over half a tablespoon and bake it a little longer; and corn salad. For corn salad: 2 cans corn (or equivalent fresh), 2 small cucumbers diced, 1 medium tomato chopped (I use grape tomatoes), 1/2 cup mayo, salt and pepper to taste. Chill before serving.

I took a break to walk the dogs and saw an awesome rainbow. Cheers, leprechauns.

Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body's Whole wheat bisquick (I halved the recipe and used a cheese grater to cut the butter in) and Bakerlady's no bake energy balls (omitted the coconut because ew). Holy shit those things are good, and good for you. During all of this work, the dogs laid on their asses and did nothing.

Saturday morning was laundry and a family trek to the Farmers' Market that just started up in our neighborhood. MFD had just gotten produce the day before, so this was more a checking out of the market. I did get some garlic scapes, which I haven't used before, so I'm excited about that. I got Jersey tomatoes, strawberries, and local honey from the Pine Barrens.

When we got home, we sat out front, relaxed, and ignored all chores. We figured out how to get the dogs out there - we put the handles of their leashes under our chairs. Please refer to us as Mr. & Mrs. Einstein going forward. Thanks.

We had a nice dinner at Dad & Carol's with them and Tim and Lucy. Good food and good company. I also had beer on ice like the 82 year old woman I am.

We sat outside again when we got home. There's something about that feeling in your limbs when you've been out in the fresh air and sun all day. It's heavy and languid and lovely. MFD finally cornered Mister Softee so we had that too. I did some food prep, including zucchini pie for breakfasts and The Weary Chef's crab and corn chowder with bacon and jalapeno for Monday's dinner.

Sunday brought a blissful sleep in, then a trip to see MFD's parents with some Dunkin Donuts bagels and donuts. I had to check out their honeysuckle - it's the smell of summer coming.

Debbie, MFD and I headed over to Mom & Rich's to sit by the pool and enjoy some beverages and succulent grilled chicken.

Sunday night = couch, nail polish touch up, dog snuggles, magazine reading, and TV.

This is my first full week of work in two weeks. Be kind to me, world.

I've been kicking around bringing back Thursday Thoughts (see examples here, here, here). I used to do them most Thursdays. They were flippant and fun and sometimes snarky. I miss them.

Linking up with Join the Gossip for Monday Morning Gossip
Linking up with Sami's Shenanigans for Weekend Shenanigans
Linking up with Southern Sunflowers & Coffee Beans for Monday Mingle

Q&A

Source

Saturday in the hizzy.

Joy from The Sowell Life did a Q&A on her blog the other day and asked me to answer some questions. Here lie the answers!

I love Q&A - doing it, reading them. Do you want to play? Lay some answers on me in the comments, or copy & paste this into a note on the facespace or into a new blog post!

Joy's Questions

1. Out of the 24 hours in a day, what is your favorite time on the clock and why? 
If it's a weekday, it's 5 p.m. because that's when I leave work. If it's a weekend, it's 8 a.m. because the whole day is laid out before me. 
2. What is your favorite magazine to get in the mail or buy in the store? 
I get more than 10 magazines a month because I am a crazy person. My top three are Real Simple, US Mag, and Entertainment Weekly.
3. Twitter or Facebook? Facebook.
4. What's your best memory of high school? Gym Night.
5. What's your go to website for shopping? Amazon. 
6. A blogger who inspires you? This is tough - I read so many different types of blogs, and get a lot out of all of them. If I don't get something out of a blog, I don't read it.
7. Who is your celebrity crush? Brody Jenner (so embarrassing, yes?), Edward Norton, Ryan Gosling, Matthew Modine
8. What's a book you'd recommend to read? Tigers in Red Weather, Rules of Civility, Beach Music, Gone with the Wind
9. A favorite recipe you love to make? I love my meatloaf recipe. Do you want it?
10. Your favorite app on your phone? DD - it gives me the closest Dunkin Donuts locations
11. You've got an afternoon kid free and job free, what would you do? Clean my house and read a book
12. The restaurant you always crave? Las Margaritas

Have a great Saturday!

The Friday Five - Dad Version

I bet you think you have the best dad, but that's false. I do.

My wedding - September 2010

Five things I can thank my Dad for:

1. I've reached higher, done better, and taken more chances in my life because I've always known my Dad was standing behind me to encourage me or pick me up if I fell. I've never glanced back, I've never had to. I've always just known he's there.

2. My appreciation for a good beach trip, sunset, and travel.

Key West for my Dad's 50th - October 2006

3. I hold my lifelong friends dear and cherish my relationships with them. My Dad is still best friends with guys from his younger days and I've seen the immense value in that. They are a part of his family and thus, a part of mine, just like my friends are a part of my family.

4. Regular oil changes in my cars.

5. Recognizing the value of working hard, personal growth, trying new things, laughing loudly without inhibition, Bruce Springsteen...too many other things to list. Thanks for everything, Dad.

Cape May - June 2012

Wait! Don't leave! Go check out my top five chick flicks on Gwen's blog Confessions of a Gila Monster today! The title is from Dirty Dancing, you know you wanna.

Happy Father's Day weekend to all of you dads!

Linking up with

The Sowell Life - The Friday Five

Follow the Ruels for Friday Favorites

Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday

A. Liz Adventures, The Good Life, Hello Happiness, and Carolina Charm for Five on Friday