Monday, April 29, 2019

It Was a Marvel-ous Weekend

See what I did there?

So, obviously, we finally, finally saw Avengers Endgame on Saturday night; I say finally because, the feat required us to stand in a line snaking for two blocks around the theater, just to get our seats (we had tickets, but seats are on a first come, first serve basis here in podunk Hooterville), and included a thirty-minute delay to the start of the movie so that idiots in the concession lines could get their Milk Duds. Now, I know that theaters make their profit off concessions, but, come on! Endgame!

The movie was absolutely worth the wait, the price of admission, and the annoyance of watching it with three hundred other anxious fans! It was a beautiful wrap-up of a story arc that built up over 11 years and 22 movies; the ending was satisfying, each character got the send-off that they deserved, and, SPOILER ALERT...they finally acknowledged what I have known all along: This IS America's Ass.

And this is why he is my imaginary boyfriend

That's my kind of movie.

In other marvelous weekend news, Hugh and I installed curtain rods on the porch. I am now 100% Porch Night ready, despite the fact that Mother Nature is still being a whiny bitch, and, pissed all over my happiness with bullshit winds and rain, yesterday.

We'll get there, eventually.








Friday, April 26, 2019

Friday Favorites

TGIF, y'all!

This week crawled by, and, I'm not sure if it was due to the misery caused by my allergies or to the anticipation of the opening for Avengers Endgame, but, either way; It. Was. Sloooow.

But, here we are, at Friday! Finally!

And, I already have my tickets to see Endgame tomorrow night!


I'm really looking forward to seeing the movie, but, I have a terrible feeling that they are going to kill my imaginary boyfriend...

Please, not Cap!

...the Man-Cub saw the movie last night and he would neither confirm nor deny my suspicion, so, I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Speaking of the Man-Cub, I think his sister misses him...


...and, the feeling is clearly mutual...


...I raised such good kids, including the one I didn't "technically" raise; Katie texted me this picture earlier this week and I swooned...


...although, if she had ended up in prison, I hope she knows I would have totally baked her a cake with a file in it.

On a completely different topic, I found this amazing bouquet in the clearance section of the local supermarket this week; it was marked at $17, which was a deal I could not refuse.


It brightened my work week, a week that is now officially over; I did mention it was Friday, right?

Thank God.



Thursday, April 25, 2019

Dear Allergies:

Go away.

That is all.

(This post brought to you by Claritin, Flonase, and Allegra, all three of which I have tried, and, all three of which have failed to put a dent in the itching of my eyes, running of my nose, blurring of my vision, pounding of my head, and constant sneezing)


Wednesday, April 24, 2019

What's Up Wednesday


Another month, another What's Up Wednesday! I am linking up with Sheaffer and Shay, to share what we have been up to, recently.

What I'm Eating

I haven't really eaten anything exciting recently; I've been trying to undo the damage that I did to my waistline in Hawaii. That's been going about as well as could be expected.

What I'm Reminiscing About

The tragic burning of Notre Dame has me reminiscing about the trip to Paris that I took with my mom and sisters several years ago. We were there during Holy Week and had the opportunity to attend mass at Notre Dame. I'll never forget the feeling of peace that washed over me in the cathedral, and, my heart is heavy for the French people. I know they will rebuild, but, the devastation is heartbreaking, nonetheless.










What I'm Loving

Warmer weather, longer days, time spent with family, and the promise of summer, just around the corner!


What I've Been Up To

The weather has gotten a lot nicer lately, so, I've been spending as much time as possible outside. I've been biking with Queen B, walking with Boomer, and strolling through the blossoming fruit trees in downtown Hooterville on my lunch hour. It's been wonderful.





What I'm Dreading

Thankfully, I can't think of a single thing that I am dreading.

What I've Been Working On

Baby Cooper finally made his entrance into this world on April 17th, and, I spent a bit of time editing the photos that I took at the delivery. For my first delivery room shoot, I think it went quite well.










What I'm Excited About

Avengers Endgame! I can hardly wait!


What I'm Watching

Hugh and I recently binge-watched Yellowstone and we are now eagerly awaiting the start of the second season later this summer.


I can't believe I am actually going to admit this, but, if you can't be vulnerable with strangers on the internet, who can you be vulnerable with; am I right? I'm right. Sooo, I recently started recording Days of Our Lives so that I can watch it in the evenings after my workouts.

I haven't watched Days in years, so, what brought me back? Jack Deveraux. Or, more specifically, Mathew Ashford, returning to the role of Jack Deveraux.

Back in the day, my college roommates and I were obsessed with the unlikely pairing of Jack and Jennifer Horton so, when I heard they were going to be reunited after thirty years, I decided I needed to see if the new writers could recreate the magic. It's too soon to tell, because, in true soap opera fashion, Jack has amnesia and doesn't remember Jen, but, never fear, that shit turns on a dime (also in true soap opera fashion), and I have no doubt they'll be together like peas and carrots again in no time.

  

Since I started watching, I have been drawn into another unlikely pairing: that of the police commissioners daughter and a serial killer. A serial killer, people! How does one write a redemption arc for a serial killer? I guess the same way they wrote a redemption arc for a rapist, all those years ago (don't judge me! It's a SOAP OPERA, people!). So, I came for Jack and Jen, but I'm staying for Cin (Ciara and Ben, duh).


What I'm Reading

I am working with colleagues from the local mental health center and school district to create a threat assessment protocol for responding appropriately when a student makes a threat against the schools; one of them suggested that I read A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold, and I took her suggestion. It was not an easy book to read, but, I couldn't put it down. The irony that I was reading it mere days before the twenty year anniversary of Columbine was not lost on me.



What I'm Listening To

I got another album recently: Journey: Greatest Hits. It brings back a lot of memories of High School, which, now feels like at least a million years ago.

What I'm Wearing

Spring has arrived and I am wearing allll the sandals! And Wedges! If I weren't too lazy to shave my legs on the regular, I would totally be wearing skirts and dresses, but, baby steps.

What I'm Doing This Weekend

I don't know for sure, but I have a bad feeling that it is going to involve me donning gardening gloves and will ultimately result in crippling pain. Soooo looking forward to it.

On the bright side, Endgame!

What I'm Looking Forward To

The Man-Cub comes home on May 20th! We are thisclose to being through his second year of college. On an island. Thousands of miles away. To say that I am beyond excited about having him home again is a vast understatement.


What Else Is New

We recently learned that Boomer likes bubbles. I am now searching my home for the bubble machine that I vaguely recall purchasing on clearance several years ago. I'm confident that I stored it away, thinking that I would use it for a party at some point in time, and, now I just have to remember where the hell I stored it. Wish me luck.



Monday, April 22, 2019

Basket Case

Easter weekend proved just as relaxing and entertaining as I had hoped it would. Boomer and I made the drive to Mayberry Friday afternoon, and, as it was his first long trip, I gave myself plenty of time. He did great; he whined for the first twenty minutes, settled down a bit for the next twenty, and then decided he most definitely did not enjoy curvy roads, and, started whining again. The only time he calmed down was when I sang to him. Loudly, and, badly.

Apparently, there is no accounting for musical taste.


Once we got to Mayberry, I joined my mom, younger sister, and nephew for dinner at the local Chinese restaurant, where my mom appears to be a regular customer; she even has her own booth. Then, we went back to the house, where we got comfortable and cracked open a couple of bottles of wine before bed.

The following morning, I got up early so that I could get first crack at the donut selection at the local supermarket bakery. Unfortunately, "early" is relative and, by the time I got to the store, pickins' were slim. I did manage to snag the last chocolate glazed donut for my nephew, so, all was not lost.

After breakfast, we picked up my niece, affectionately known here on the blog as the Rodeo Princess, and she, mom, Barbie, and I went antiquing for a while before swinging back by the house to pick up my nephew for burgers at the bowling alley (yes, we are small town; thank you for noticing).

Hugh and Queen B arrived later in the evening and we set about dying Easter eggs, as one does on Easter Eve (they both had to work and hadn't been able to join me on Friday).


We made sure to include the Man-Cub, even though he was an ocean away...


We kicked off Easter morning with mimosas...


and then welcomed my other nephew, his wife, their daughter, as well as my aunt and uncle, who had traveled to Mayberry from Mount Pilot, which is seventeen miles away. We had an amazing lunch, and, poked around in our Easter baskets, which, Holy Easter Bunny, Batman! We hit the jackpot!


I had made Queen B a basket suited to a picnic in the park on her new bike, including a basket that she can strap to the back of Sweet Pea (her bike). She loved it.


I also made Barbie a basket, featuring her favorite french macrons, a bottle of wine, and some French chocolates, among other things.


In return, Barbie made me a basket fit for a Queen! The "basket" is a large picnic hamper and she filled it full of yummy stuff, including jams and jellies, and English muffins. I loved it, of course, and, I think it's also interesting that neither of us knew what the other was doing.

After lunch, we posed for some family pictures and then loaded up the cars and headed back home. It was a quick trip, but, as always, it was well worth it. I can't think of any other way that I would rather spend Easter.