Driving and thinking, thinking and driving

Once upon a time I thought I would be a person who moves away from where they grew up. After college I planned to move to Boston where my college roommate was heading. I realized over the next six months that in my heart, that's not what I truly wanted or needed. But I was afraid to say it out loud. I equated not going with failing. I still remember telling Laura, Kim, and Kim that I had changed my mind while sitting on the beach in Ocean City. It felt like a huge weight was lifted, but for a while I was scared that I made the wrong decision or that I was stuck. Oh, early 20s. I don't miss your self doubt and resistance to following gut feelings.

When I look back over the last 17 years since college graduation, I know I made the right decision for me. Aside from being an hour away in Delaware for college, I've never lived more than 20 minutes from the town in which I grew up. I've traveled to many places within and outside of the United States, and this is where I always return. It's where my roots are. It's in my bones.

Saturday, on a drive, I passed:
-The corner where I sat watching the Lower Southampton July 4th Parade every year from childhood to my early 20s
-The Lower South fields where Gamma used to stock the stand and I entered my lifelong relationship with Swedish Fish
-The relocated library...Gamma took me to the original every week
-Kim's street, turning the opposite way just like I would have to go home to my house from there in high school
-Hanging a left on Arbutus and remembering a driver playing chicken with me on the way to Volleyball practice with Jenny, George, and Brian in the car
-Sailing down Old Lincoln Highway towards the high school like I've done so many times...speeding to make it before the first bell, going to gym night practice, to a football game on Friday night, to see both of my brothers graduate

It was like living the lyrics of My Hometown by The Boss...except that nothing was rundown, just different from it was when I was younger. Different but still the same.

I don't meander down back roads much anymore. But on days like Saturday it's like driving on memory, taking routes I couldn't direct you down but can drive myself like I'm on autopilot. I can practically see and feel previous versions of myself in front of me and sometimes feel like I'm existing in two separate times. I love that. 

What about you? Stayed in your home town or moved away?

Things that are probably like wrestling a gator

via

I've never wrestled an actual gator, of course, but when I think about how much grunting, sweat, strife, and near death is involved, I think of these things.

Putting the duvet cover on by yourself. Yes, I have tried the burrito method and I still end up sweating and cursing.

Folding a fitted sheet. After observing Martha Stewart and housekeeping professionals and attempting their ways, I have decided I like being a fitted sheet baller, shot caller, brawler better.  

Giving a dog eye drops or ear drops.

Trying to get your winter coat off when you get too hot in the driver's seat. 

Attempting to remove clothing that is just a little too small in the fitting room.

Getting men to settle on wedding attire. 

Untangling a necklace in a hurry.

Picking up poop while walking three dogs who have no respect for leashes.

Bumbling up steps with all the bags from the trunk so you don't have to go back outside for the rest.

What are some of your wrestling a gator moments?

*************

Haikuesday

Gators and Tuesdays:

Both dangerous and wiley.

Navigate lightly.

                                                                   **************

Happiest of birthdays to my little girlfriend Eva the Diva, who turns two today. She's cute, sassy, funny, and brings much joy to this world. And congratulations to Villanova! What a game. It's pretty safe to say 99% of the greater Philadelphia area is experiencing novanation in some way today.

TWTW - the one with the catch up

Good thing I decided to put my work bag in my car before heading out for the evening Friday night...the shiteous garage I was parked in was doing construction on the parking decks and if I would've left my car there I would've been trapped. Death to Center City parking garages! I walked around a bit and got a manicure (OPI I Manicure for Beads) - I also included that same polish in the fun box I sent to Christine for winning my birthday giveaway.

I made my way over to Aerosoles on 17th & Walnut for a private shopping party Jill organized. Good deals and shoes that will not kill my old lady feet = solid night. We went to dinner at Devil's Alley after. Food was meh and the service was terrible - a half hour between when the first dish in a course came out and the last. I've been there for lunch about a year ago with a much better experience. It took me an hour and 40 minutes to get into work Friday and 21 minutes to get home. Traffic.

I was in Doylestown to have breakfast with my girl AEB by 8:30 Saturday morning. We met at The Hattery. We like it there. The lobby has a cool old suitcase wall.

I stopped to see my niece Lola Jean, who was six months old Saturday. She is cuddly and inquisitive and hilarious. I adore this child. I went to Target after and scored huge on chicken breasts. This is life excitement right now. I also got some totes for basement reorganization and sand toys, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles to leave for renters at the shore house.

I spent most of the afternoon laying down with a heating pad due to a bastard pinched nerve. When I got up, Mae decided the heating pad was hers. She could win every side eye contest.

Saturday night I met the Sisters Wexler for a belated birthday dinner at Three Monkeys. Fabulous food, wonderful friends, and a huge Villanova Win made for a good night. I was home and in bed before 11 but slept like buttholes because a humdinger of a storm ripped through and Geege and Mae were beside themselves.

Sunday afternoon we headed over to the Flyers Skate Zone to see our friend Jimmy Mac play on the NHS Blues against the Flyers Alumni for the Goals for Giving hockey fundraiser.

Weekly food prep: egg muffins with leftover Easter ham and sharp white cheddar for breakfasts. For the freezer: power breakfast muffins and breakfast burritos made with eggs, diced green chiles, sharp white cheddar, and ground sausage (made egg mix and sausage, assembly and freezing tonight). Sunday dinner: baked chicken, baked sweet potatoes, and sauteed baby bellas and shredded brussels sprouts. Lunches: baked chicken and steamed broccoli. Snacks: grapes, cantaloupe, snap peas. Lemons cut up for water. Killed it this weekend. Other dinners are baked salmon and steamed veggies.

Other weekend things:
-Five loads of laundry done and put away. Putting away laundry is one of my most hated hausfrauing items so it's worth noting.  Usually I let it sit in the basket for a few days.

-A second trip to Target Sunday for the stuff I forgot Saturday...still forgot three items.
-Three bags of trash, one large picture, a chair, a rug, and a weight bench gone from the basement.
-Shades of Blue marathon

I saw a lot of my people this weekend, plus Michelle and Amelia Thursday night. It was a good one! 

How was yours? 

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending &

Winter Goals Report

I'm late I'm late I'm late. I already shared my spring goals here. This is the report on my winter goals, which can basically be summed up with a grade of D-. There's always next season! My winter season goals were: 

1. Make mozzarella cheese at home. Fail. I got into a thing where I was positive I needed a certain type of milk. Further research let me know I could use almost any milk, but the time ran out. 

2. Weights 3x/week and walking once a week. I abandoned my program and need to get back up to speed. The only way I can do that is slowly! Fail. I got back into zumba and walking, but not weights yet. 

3. Eat at Abe Fisher. Fail. I meant to go before my birthday but time got away from me. 

4. Reconfigure basement rooms and how we're using them. This will require purging and reorganization. Pass, even though it's still in progress. Hampered by ceiling leak and pipe replacement and the decision to paint before I reconfigure.

5. See sunrise in Cape Town. No good place to it in Cape Town, but I did it in Mabula. So pass. 

6. Bake a carrot cake. Fail. 

7. Get shore house listed and rented out for the summer. All rented for July and August and the end of June. 

8. Monthly massage - actually use the membership I have at Hand & Stone. I did go in December, February, and March. So I'm giving it a pass. 

9. Try five recipes I have pinned on pinterest. pear, cranberry, and gingersnap crumble; jalapeno popper quinoa bites; leftover hambone soup; honey soy chicken drumsticks; corned beef and cabbage soup

10. Go up to the Liberty One observation deck. Fail. And I work right next door to it. LOL

Happy weekend, friends! 

Shit MFD Said Vol 28

The Night before NewOrleans

Me: I almost got in an altercation getting your hair gel tonight, you know.

MFD: What? Why? It was the last one or something? 

Me: Yes. The lady was yelling at me in Russian so I didn't really understand but was gesturing to her hair and saying I need it and gesturing to mine like I didn't.

MFD: Did she have spiky hair?

Me: Yes.

MFD: Did you show her my picture? Like look at this guy's hair?

Me: Um...no.

MFD: You should have. 

Upon arrival in New Orleans

MFD: Where's that hair gel you got at Target? Did you bring it?

Me: No. Why would I bring your hair gel? It's in the thing where your hair gel goes. At home.

MFD: Great! Now we have to get hair gel. Do you have anything?

Me: No.

Digs through things anyway 

MFD: Do you know where my Rayban sunglasses are? 

Me: No.

MFD: Do you know where anything is?

Me: Yes. All of my things.

MFD: Guess what works? 

Me: The water thing on the fridge? How?

MFD: I fixed it.

Me: How?

MFD: If men told women how we fix things you would kill us off and rule the world like Amazons.

Me: That is bullshit ridiculous. I bet it just started working again. 

MFD: No. I fixed it.

Me: How?

MFD: I can't tell you. Then my usefulness will be extinct.

Reading The Catcher in the Rye before bed

MFD: I bet you like this part. Reads part

Me: No.

MFD: I bet you like this fart part (reads part)

Me: Yes. Farts are always funny.

MFD: I bet this is one of your favorite lines (reads lines)

Me: Actually, it is. 

MFD: I know. Because you underlined it. But I'd know anyway.

At the shore

Me: Do you know what the wifi password is?

MFD: Turdbutt?

Me: No. 

MFD: Why not? 

Me: Because renters have to use it.

MFD: So? Is it Label maker? 

Me: ...

MFD: Just thinking of things you like. 

All read and approved by MFD before they go live...
Shit MFD Said Vol 1, Shit MFD Said Vol 2, Shit MFD Said Vol 3, Shit MFD Said Vol 4
Shit MFD Said Vol 5, Shit MFD Said Vol 6, Shit MFD Said Vol 7, Shit MFD Said Vol 8
Shit MFD Said Vol 9, Shit MFD Said Vol 10, Shit MFD Said Vol 11, Shit MFD Said Vol 12, Shit MFD Said Vol 13, Shit MFD Said Vol 14, Shit MFD Said Vol 15, Shit MFD Said Vol 16, Shit MFD Said Vol 17, Shit MFD Said Vol 18, Shit MFD Said Vol 19, Shit MFD Said Vol 20, Shit MFD Said Vol 21, Vol 22, Vol 23, Vol 24, Vol 25, Vol 26, Vol 27