TWTW - the one I would like to do over except not really

Friday afternoon I merrily spent my LOFT and Body Shop birthday gift cards, unaware of the shitshow that lay ahead. Around 2:30 I got a SEPTA alert about trains being delayed due to the Nor'easter. By the time I got down there, about six lines were flat cancelled, mine included. I made my way to Old City, ran into Angie and Sam on the way, and Debbie picked me up and drove me home. Thank God, people were stuck in the city overnight. I had no gas in my car so I left it at the train station. I was happily ensconced in my warm house by 5:30 pm only to have the electric go out at 6 and the front fence blow down soon after. This is only the second time we've lost power in 14 years, so we've been lucky. Early to bed and finished a book on my kindle.

Who wants to be woken up at 7:30 on a Saturday morning when they are trying to stay warm in bed and not alert the dogs to movement by a phone call from someone trying to get in touch with their husband? No one. It was chaos from there on out. The power kicked back on about 9:30, Gus was walking pooping as campaign friends and my mom arrived. Welcome to the poop house! Please come in. The second to last petition day and it was a cold one. Catering by my mom, thank you Mom! When everyone left around 7 I cleaned up and painted my nails (Essie It's Genius) and got into bed. Saturday totally took it out of me and I am 100% thankful for my friends who never fail to be there in person or at the other end of a text or phone call. I would not be who I am if I was not fortified by a damn fine crew of strong, honest, smart, funny, loyal women who prop me up when I need them.

Sunday we finally retrieved my car and got an iced coffee because I'm fresh out of my homemade brew. I picked up a little and changed the sheets and caught up with my dad when he dropped off catering by Carol for Sunday. Thanks Carol! The last day of petitions brought a lot of people we don't know personally in and it was nice and exhausting but most days were full of people we know personally who gave up hours or whole days to get signatures for Michael, who were patient as areas were assigned to them, who were kind to our pain in the ass dogs, who understood that we are regular people trying to do something outside of our regular jobs and lives that would not be possible without the help of them. We know amazing people - some we've known forever and are family because we are actually related to them and some are framily we have chosen, some neighbors, some we know through various fellowships, some people who just want a representative who better aligns with their views, and some we've met since the 2016 election. Plus our families and friends who have donated money and friends from high school who show up to volunteer with delicious pastries (thanks Bridget!) or show up on a Sunday night to notarize (thanks Staci! and thanks for the Girl Scout cookie hookup through your daughter) and my mom and Carol who answered my please help me I'm drowning I need food help calls last week. I have cried out of both frustration and gratitude this weekend.

Weekly food prep is leftovers. Leftovers are saving us this week. Thanks again Mom and Carol!

While I would do most of the fuckery of the weekend over, a do over would mean I'd lose the help from our family and friends, so I can't throw the baby out with the bathwater. You take the good you take the bad you take 'em both and there you have the facts of life...the facts of life. 

How was yours? 

TWTW - the one with the friends

Friday night dinner at Parx Grill with Frank & Amanda followed by entertainment by the hilarious Jim Breuer, and then we met up with my brother and Aubrey and other friends after. I was in a casino AND out until 11:30 on a Friday. Alert the media. We got home and I shredded chicken for Saturday while MFD washed both couches because of dog poop incidents. People arriving at 10 am Saturday? It's fine. Perfect timing for a poopacalypse.

Up and at it early on Saturday morning. I was out at the store and back, then I finished the shredded BBQ chicken in the crockpot, zucchini pie, and spinach casserole and frantically picked up the house and set up for coffee and breakfast. In a race against the clock, I did not make it into the shower before campaign volunteers arrived so hair washing was sacrificed for the cause. File under: you can't do it all. Team Debbie/me/Bruce were out on the morning and afternoon shift and Bruce got himself a seat at the table numerous times and it was so awesome to see my friend since elementary school Bridget both days this weekend. MFD has had awesome people out to volunteer for him the past two weekends - framily and people we've known forever and some we've just met in the past year. It's very humbling for people to give up their time for you.

Golden Girls Murder Mystery Dinner at the Cock 'n Bull (lol lol lolol) restaurant in Peddler's Village with some fine ladies on Saturday night, including the second night in a row I hung out with Amanda. The dessert was of course cheesecake because GOLDEN GIRLS. The poor three women sharing the table with the six of us were subject to poop and vomit stories as well as aggressive adult stories. At one point they were literally silent with their mouths hanging open.

Sunday I was up and out by 8:30 to DD then to visit my most adorable niece and nephew then off to ShopRite to pick up a few things. Another race against the clock to clear the kitchen from the day before, wipe down the bathrooms, get towels going, and pick up the house before volunteers arrived. I barely made it and definitely no shower until 2 pm so they saw me in all of my day old makeup and t-shirt glory. Bruce ate a coaster and made an enormous fucking mess while I was showering. I made soup for volunteers and did some campaign work while I stared at my book wishing I was reading it. I did finish it Sunday evening.  Oh and I painted my janky chipped nails before the Golden Girls Saturday night (Essie Swept Off My Feet and Essie Penny Talk).

Weekly food prep: lol. TBD. Maybe next weekend. 

Was it even the weekend? How was yours?

Happy birthday to my mother-in-law today! 

TWTW - the one with the canvassing kickoff

Bruce got the snip snip of the balls on Friday, so I worked from home to drop him off at 9 and pick him up around noon. He did very well. After work I got my weekly flowers and produce at Produce Junction, hit Target at night, cut up veggies and we had pizza for dinner. We got like four hours of sleep on Thursday night so we were zombies.

Saturday up and early to make a vegetarian dish and set up for MFD's first day of gathering petitions. He had awesome volunteers show up to pound the pavement and even though you're only approaching fellow democrats for signatures to get him on the ballot in May, it takes a long time because maybe three people out of 10 answer their door. So, if anyone can give up a few hours on Saturday or Sunday or even weekdays now until March 5, please consider volunteering to get petitions signed! Everyone works in pairs and you're basically asking friendly people for signatures. It's exercise, you can hang with my dogs, and I'll feed you. Team Debbie and I will be back out again on Saturday. If you're local, contact me at lifeaccordingtosteph@gmail.com and I will pass your info along to his campaign manager! The main requirement is being a registered dem in PA. Bonus points for being a registered dem in the 170th district.

Our house was headquarters from about 10-6 so once everyone left and MFD went to an event downtown this introvert chilled the fuck out, finished a book, and started a new one. Extra chill due to what I sincerely hope is the last snowfall of this season. Nails this week are Essie mochachino.

Sunday was more canvassing, but a pretty regular day for me doing laundry, changing the sheets, reading,relaxing, and policing Bruce Springsteen who now jumps up on the coffee table from the ground. I did get to catch up a little with our friend Lynz who came to help MFD.

Weekly food prep: Breakfast is egg muffins with baby bellas and extra sharp cheddar, snack is oranges and bell pepper strips, lunch and dinner are leftover roast beef and vegetarian pasta dish along with potato salad from Sunday until that runs out, then taco soup. I also made elderberry extract. 

I hope you had a great weekend. I am not off today, I am not off most bank holidays. Are you?

I have zero plans for blog posts for the week so let's see what happens, shall we?