TWTW - the one with the Memorial Day

Friday By the time Friday rolled around I was worn the fuck out as noted in Friday's post. I hit Dog Beach in the morning, which is the last time we'd see the sun for days, worked, made salmon and salad for dinner, painted my nails, zoned the fuck out and finished a book.

Saturday was like a plunge back into pre-panny life. My brother Sean and Nicole got engaged, and there was a surprise to her gathering after. It was supposed to be outside at Keenan's but were you alive on Saturday? The rain and gale force winds had us inside. I had a grand ol' time behaving like I was in my early 30s. Thanks to Rich for the drinks and ride, to the whole fam for the fun, to Stephen and my Mom for bringing the 80s along, to the universe for no hangover when there surely should have been one, and to science and vaccines for a little taste of what used to be normal years ago and was fun to revisit. I was worried about how I'd be my first time in a close crowd of people I don't know. There were a lot of people, we were close, and I was fine. I think we psych ourselves out for things. I do, anyway. I'm happy because I want to be able to go back to concerts, weddings, large events, and crowded city sidewalks without feeling panicked. Congrats Sean & Nicole! I'm excited for you!  

Sunday was possibly worse feeling weather-wise than Saturday even though there was less rain? It was fucking cold and miserable. Aubrey and Stephen were gone by 9:30. I did literally nothing aside from read, shower, walk dogs, eat salad and hotdogs, and watch the finale of Mare of Easttown. How much do we love this cast? So fucking much.

Monday We finally saw the fucking sun and could step out into the world without freezing (well, end of May freezing). I cleaned the house when weekend renters left which was pretty quick because thankfully they left it in good shape. I read again - three full books this weekend, and the one I finished Friday night - and whiled away hours on the porch. We walked down for the sunset and MFD and the old dogs arrived late late. I always make Memorial Day Monday a pretty quiet day. It seems fitting in reflection of who has died for this country and why, and what we can do as a society to make sure it's less and less and less all the time, both in active duty and also from things like suicide and anything that deteriorates bodies after they come home. 

It was really nice to be out in the world this weekend, and to see people back at parades and with friends and family. It almost makes me cry every time. It's been a hard year for everyone. I hope we approach this summer giving each other grace and space. 

Happy birthday to Kate yesterday and to KVSR today! 

TWTW - the one where love is all around us

Let me cut right to the chase - I came home to poop on the dining room table on Friday. Yes, you read that correctly, We all got Bruced and i has to restrain myself from setting the table on fire. I have literally never. MFD is going down if he leaves a dining room chair out again. Once I collected myself from seeing a pile of turds on my table, I quickly changed and we headed to the wedding of our neighbor. Congrats Dana & Mike!! It was a fun night and we met nice people. And since it was literally around the corner from our house, I got two loads of laundry done before I fell out around midnight.

Saturday I woke up to pouring rain so I finished laundry, watched the Royal Wedding replay, and finished a book. I also packed for the shore, ran and unloaded the dishwasher, picked up around the house, blah blah blah.

Our oven was supposed to get fixed but we found an even bigger problem with it. While that was going down, I picked up very local honey to help with allergies, got flowers at Home Depot and planted them, and returned something to Target where I ran into Stephen & Aubrey and the best niece and nephew ever. I've sucked at maintaining my flowers the past two years so I cut back and added two more perennials so hopefully that helps. We still need some mulch and hanging plants but at least the bed is done. Oh and I'm not typically one to comment on this but WTH is with the price of gas right now?

Saturday night was Gail's engagement party in Rose's awesome house in the middle of nowhere. Such a gorgeous old home and a really lovely area about an hour away from us. I am extremely happy for Gail and Shawn and we had fun reminiscing about the day they got together at Crystal's bachelorette party. It was great to see everyone and catch up. And and and you guys there was a fucking hotdog bar. It was like I died and went to heaven. 

Sunday we headed to the shore to get our last push done before Memorial Day. This doesn't mean all the work is done, but it means what needs to be done before anyone comes in is taken care of. The stuff that will be done after is the stuff that will be nice to have done but not necessary. The day we do this is always an ass breaking day. In the middle of it when everything is torn apart and seems like it will not be put back together, l like to take a break to sit downstairs with my dogs while I curse softly to myself. Today included moving all beds and cleaning under them, moving couches and cleaning under them, cleaning blinds and baseboards (pro-tip: use dryer sheets for baseboards), tightening hooks, adding hooks, touch up paint, spackling the closet for paint later this week, cleaning all window AC units and installing the ones not in the windows, removing all extraneous blankets and personal shit, dealing with weeds, putting the porch furniture out, taking the living room rug outside and beating it, and removing the old pink cabinet and putting the new one in. I was originally going to paint that pink after Memorial Day but decided not to because I like it in the room as is. I'm going to paint a bench in the kitchen pink instead. I need my bright pink furniture in there. I still need to paint the closet, touch up paint in one more room, paint some trim, put the games back, more weeding, make shower cleaner, and make hand soap. I'm tired in advance. 

But around 5 I had to sit down and be done. We biked the boards and had dinner at Hula Grill, which we can never get into in season. 

We hit the beach and did not beat the rain home. I love when a storm is coming in and the sky is split all over so there's different light everywhere you turn. 

We watched Jersey Shore Family Reunion and I painted my nails (Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Cherry Fast) and toes (Wet n Wild megalast I Red a Good Book) even though more painting is in this week’s forecast. After the rain we walked the dogs to get ice cream. It was still humid AF but gorgeous.

Weekly food prep: I am so back and forth this week between here and Philly, I did nothing. So basically eating out of the freezer or english muffins or eggs or cheese and crackers. I'm already thinking about my Memorial Day weekend menu. 

How was your weekend?