TWTW - the one for the moms

Friday I painted my nails in the morning (OPI verde nice to meet you) and hung a new mirror in the guest room. I spent a few hours at Mom's having lunch and doing one on one time for Mother's Day. I saw Rich for his birthday (today!) as he was heading out. I also saw Carol as her and my Dad were coming through Philly Thursday and Friday. 

Thursday night I couldn't fall asleep until 3 so I was spent after work Friday. We started Landscapers and crashed out on the couches after leftovers. 

Saturday Weather was abysmal and I did not want to get out of bed. Pouring and cold, I was wearing a turtleneck sweater and docs. We went to MFD's uncle Matt's funeral service, which was of course sad. I hate seeing people at something like that after a few years of seeing people never. It also wipes me out to be social now. What is normal. I was going to drive back to the shore at night, but I was worn out and the weather was not great driving weather so when we got home we got tea and settled on couches. I did laundry, changed sheets, updated some shore docs for this year, packed up for the shore, read some, had leftovers again for dinner, and we finished Landscapers and watched Almost Famous. 

Sunday There is absolutely never a time where one can drive on 95 south through Philly and not encounter dead stop traffic. Literally not a time. At all. When I got back to the shore I did my vitamins like a proper aged person, then set to doing some wall repair/nail filling and prep for touch up painting. While that dried MFD and I picked up dinner from Boyar's prepared food case.  

We also took a ride to the North End to see the erosion down there (bad) and our beach (better). The sea was angry that day, my friends. It was cool to see the sun come out though. Sun, what is that. 

When we got back we remade one of the completely unmade/all things being washed six beds (one bed left to undo/wash all, seven beds total). figured out where we're hanging wall stuff that's being updated this year, I painted the powder room ceiling (did not fix hatchet work of a previous patcher but it's fine), and finished a book.

Happy birthday to Rich today!!

Hope you had a good Sunday or Mother's Day or both. It seems disingenuous this year to lean in to celebrating  moms on a broad scale as a country if we're going to force all people who can carry children to become mothers, against their will and some at peril of their own death, dignity, or sanity. Could be the last year though, if fascists expect people who can get pregnant to increase the domestic supply of infants they might not allow it to be celebrated anymore because it is a duty to the state and not a choice. Super weird flex for people who allegedly don't like big government to support the state owning wombs. But I digress. 

Show Us Your Books is tomorrow. Hopefully spring will show up this week too.

Thursday Thoughts - Inside you the time moves and she don't fade

1. Last year BarkBox was sold out of roses and this year I got them and my life has been made. 

2.  Outside views

3. Inside views. Not much happening here. I have watched more than an advisable amount of weasel motherfucker Congress people advocating for healing and unity after they've spent four years doing the opposite. Cry me a fucking river ya fucks. I've also watched The Wilds and that is...wild. Disturbing.

4.  Hydration is one of my only goals this year. I met it every day this week. My key is a bottle I know. Like this is 40 ounces. So I need to be finished two and working my way towards the end of three by the end of the night. Done and done. I’m also in the peppermint tea every day phase of winter. STASH only.

5. My return to a paper to do list has served me well this week. I'm back to focusing on tasks and completing them but my brain still moves slower than it used to before the world stopped. Tomorrow I might even add in some external errands like return library books. Get salad things. Go to post office. In Covid times I feel an illicit thrill to go places. 

6. Things my phone advertised to me yesterday: living walls (learn more, I actually think these are super cool), Dsoro.com which showed me shoes initially but I also saw a purple sweater advertised with jeans I am now obsessed with finding and of course, cannot; and https://cruitscout.com/ I guess because I have been sourcing content creators online. Where are my Philly area freelance writers?

7. The outgoing president and everyone in government who has propped him up even after he incited a violent insurrection is going to be a long lasting shitstain on this country. Less than a week until he leaves the White House. The white supremacy does not leave with him. 

8. I freaking howled over this:

9. Reminder:

10. E-cards: Remember wearing clothes to work?

What appears beyond the hyphen in Thursday Thoughts titles is what I'm listening to when I'm starting this - this week is The Ghost in You by The Pyschedelic Furs

TWTW - the one with the split

Things that were not faster than a speeding bullet: the progression of last week. But alas we did finally arrive to a rainy Friday that culminated in the finale of Malt Madness in my office and my favorite pizza delivered by MFD before I headed to the shore for a quick overnight.

I cannot resist the lure of the ocean after a storm, so I got up to see that Saturday morning and her mighty power put on a fine display under gray skies that gradually gave way to light. Lots of foam on the beach and beach erosion. Pics on the beach in front of the Flanders Hotel:

I road my bike down to the Music Pier and the jetty around 5th Street to survey those scenes too before riding back heading into the ferocious wind. Shit that was hard. I popped into Drip N' Scoop for a coffee, then back to do some things at the house and read a bit.

I made quick work of the mile long Spring Block Party, buying local food stuff, a CD for Lola, and of course visiting the tie dye man because I have a severe tie dye obsession. Do you spy one of my new pairs of athleisure shoes? They're iridescent.

I was back home by noon and tired like it was midnight, but I did some things around the house and then begrudingly ran my errands. Every time I have to go to stores, I am reminded why I get groceries delivered. I had to go buy flowers in person anyway though, so...oh...and I left Mae outside by accident for the two hours I was gone. She was pissed. When MFD got home we watched Florence Foster Jenkins. I freaking love Meryl Streep.

Sunday we slept in until 8:30. Weekly food prep ensued immediately. Breakfast is zucchini pie, snacks are strawberries and yogurt, lunch is pasta/chicken/veggie salad, and dinners are greek bowls and baked chicken with steamed broccoli and mashed sweet potatoes.

After I had the dishwasher going and the sheets changed and in the wash, I thought I'd have to suck it up and get out and deal with the flower bed but it started raining sideways so that was postponed. I purged my dresses and went through some bags that have been sitting around collecting crap. I also reorganized my laundry stuff using some things I had around the house to estimate sizes I need. Some of them will be cleaned up and some replaced, but I'm finally transitioning away from commercial laundry detergent. More on that in the future as MFD uses up the commercial stuff we have left. I did finally clear out the spring bulbs and plant the summer flowers under the watchful eyes of Gus and Geege. A shower, fresh nails (Essie Sunday Funday - it's been a while), putting away sheets and towels, and sinking into Woman No. 17 followed.

Today my best boy Geege turns 13. 

In case you missed it this weekend and have interest in either of these topics: organizing your recipe collection and steel buildings and reducing pressure on the planet's resources. 

Tomorrow! Show Us Your Books with me and Jana!

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

Take me to the sea

The ocean has inspired many a book and poem, as well as artists from all mediums. There's something restorative about being beside the sea. Even though I dislike when people just post a shit ton of quotes all down their blog, today, that's exactly what I'm presenting to you made from my own photos Enjoy! I hope one speaks to you.

And then it was July.

 Linking up with Shanna for Random Wednesday

TWTW - the one where vacation started

Salutations from vacation, mon frers. Vacation started Friday when we left our house before 5 a.m., picked up DD and Stephen and Aubrey, and headed south. Stephen drove the whole way so nine hours seemed to fly for me. I forgot how freaking hot the south is in the summer. Like a freaking blanket of heat. Yes, we did take some roadside photos in tobacco fields.

We made great time, and met my parents at the house before official check-in. Stephen and I did an insane Supermarket Sweep type grocery and booze run then we ordered pizza, ate, and hit the beach.

We got some nice sun time before the storms - I love a great time on the beach but there's nothing like watching the ocean get angry and a storm come in. Lightening was branching across the sky. Nature is a bad ass bitch.

We all thought it was going to rain Saturday but we ended up with an awesome beach day. Sunday too.

Vacation scenes...

Sunday night magic hour was made even better by knowing that we don't leave until Saturday. I'm so happy we could check in a day early.

Is this where I talk about food? I think I usually talk about food during TWTW. Hotdogs/hamburgers/mac salad/corn on the cob & watermelon on Saturday, Italian and a strawberry trifle Sunday. We're all pitching in cooking breakfast, dinner, and dessert.

What else? Oh yes...how you know you're on vacation with MFD - he is a quirky labeler (that Sugar Ray contains no Mark McGrath but does contain actual sugar), leaves halved lemons he uses in his hair all over (there's one in one of the bathrooms on the soap dish, I forgot to photograph it), and he sets up an office because as long as he has internet access, he's working. Even when his office set up makes him look like Doctor Evil from behind. How you know you're on vacation with me: I'm a compulsive picker upper and organize like with like. Carol is calling the table in front of the TV Stephanie's Garage Sale. Everything is a dollar.

If you need me this week, I'll be here. You can't argue with being able to sit up in bed and see the ocean. I finished a book on the way down, read one Saturday and one Sunday, and started another on Sunday. My book nerd ass is on fire.

Speaking of reading, the next Show Us Your Books linkup is Tuesday, July 14. 

Toodleoo, mofos. Stay tuned on Instagram & Facebook for more vacation scenes.

p.s. Fuck yeah, SCOTUS. As you can imagine, my equality loving bleeding liberal heart is full of glee right now. To all the judgey judgers, may I advise you to leave that to God when the time comes? I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't want self righteous people crapping all over the choices of others in his name when he left the Earth. Just an educated guess giving his very loving and accepting personality. And can everyone now just call it marriage? Okay, thanks.

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

Motion

On Mondays I'm doing a picture linkup with Kelli at She Crab Soup. If you'd like to participate, here are the prompts through July. This is my photo for the prompt motion. It's a surfer at 4th Street Beach in Ocean City, NJ.

Tomorrow: the weekend that was a day late since my four day weekend is still happening today.
In the meantime, have you entered the $50 Erin Condren giftcard giveaway?
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up with Kelli for