DC

The Capital

Tee and I got back yesterday from our long weekend road trip. It started early Thursday morning; we started driving at 6 am. Well, I started driving, and I'm happy to report that I drove until about 1:30 in the afternoon. Three cheers for uppers! It also helped that I downloaded a couple of audiobooks and we started listening to In Cold Blood. Very interesting. 

We got to the hotel around 5:30 and checked in without a problem.Initially, we'd booked the hotel for 4 nights (through AAA) then decided to only do 3 nights and visit some friends (Rachel and Jacob) the last night. I tried to cancel the last night and AAA told me they couldn't do it, which we all know is complete bullshit. Boo on AAA. But when I checked in, it was all good (and ended up being a lot cheaper than I'd expected). Props to Marriott! 

There are two main things I'll say about DC, one good and one bad. First: the metro there really freaking sucks. The trains are really slow, the ticket thing is weird and confusing (albeit more environmentally conscious, I'll give them that), they were doing construction at the start of tourist season, and it was somehow dirty despite food and drink being banned. Second: Ah-maz-ing food! We had Italian, Mexican, Vietnamese, and seafood. And there was SO MUCH YUM. I love going places that have authentic, non-American-chain restaurants. 

We went to the Air and Space, Natural History, and Crime Museums. I enjoyed Air and Space to a point, Natural History would have been a lot of fun if it wasn't for all of the stupid school groups who didn't want to be there, and the Crime Museum was awesome. Also, I don't mean to brag or anything, but after this weekend I'm now an Ace Fighter Pilot AND a Top Detective. If any of you should happen to need those services I'll give you the friends and family discount. You're welcome. 

Visiting Rachel and Jacob was SO nice. I just adore those two, and they're such a good couple. They complement each other so well, and it made me a little jealous. I found myself subconsciously leaving Tee out; a lot of the time there's a feeling of him just playing follow the leader. 
Part of me keeps hoping that something will happen to jar my affection and adoration to the level that his are at. I really, truly thing I'm hopeless. 

The drive home wasn't as nice. We (I) again got up far too early. I started the drive again, but didn't make it as long. I was exhausted and irritable and I was really ready to get away by the time we made it back to Tee's house. 
I suppose it partly goes back to an email thread we had not too long ago. I think, when he can tell I'm pushing him away a little, he feels the need to tell me how amazing I am and how much he loves me. Well, at this particular time he told me he spends all day thinking about me and us...in true cold-hearted fashion, I said I hoped he was exaggerating because I didn't think that was healthy. I'm sticking with it, even if it is rude. Believe it or not, I don't want to be the center of someone's universe. 

Shake it Out

"And I am done with my graceless heart so tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart"

I couldn't really think of a topic for this post, so a big thanks goes to Florence and the Machine and their amazing, cryptic lyrics. And her voice...just...ugh. If you're not familiar with them, catch up. You're seriously missing out. 

I had lunch with Sandy the other day and she asked me if Tee reads my blog. I quickly said, "God, I hope not." I know some of the stuff I say in here is pretty harsh; this is my place to put my thoughts, concerns, gripes, whatever. It's kind of like my diary. Except that...it's out there for...uh...the whole world. I guess it doesn't bother me because I have no idea who most of you are. And if Tee does read it, I guess he doesn't put too much stock into it. And I'll say it again: I do care about him, in my own semi-heartless way. 

We're taking my parents to an NHL game this weekend, and then we're getting squared away for DC. I recently read that taking a road trip with someone will tell you if you can really stand them or not. I suppose we'll find out! 


We went to the game yesterday, SO much fun! Hockey is an incredible game. One minute they're gliding along beautifully and gracefully, and the next they're beating the crap out of each other. Then when they get hurt they don't whine about it; they just want to get patched up as quickly as possible and get back in. 
So Tee is also a big hockey fan, and we root for different teams. Well, that was the game we went to, at my team's stadium. So, obviously, Tee was in the minority with his attire. My team won, cause they're awesome. Apparently that gave people license to be giant twats. Lord help me, I will never understand why people get so worked up about sports. 

As we were leaving, a couple people yelled at him about how the team sucked. I mean, really? Your team already won, let it go. But when I heard these people yell, I was the first one to say something back; I felt the need to protect him or something. 
But then I was getting really annoyed when he was complaining about the refs screwing his team. My thought was still that the game was done, get over it. What a conundrum.

So this trip could be make or break for us. Either way, you'll be some of the first to know. 

Wanderlust

Oh, the places you'll go

I'm feeling the itch again, guys. I know, we've got this DC trip planned (umm...have I mentioned that? If not, Tee and I are going to DC in a couple weeks. I think I did mention it). Anyway we have this trip planned but it feels stronger. I want to get away and do exciting things. 

I think, partly, with the adventures; I'm hoping that something will happen to pull me out of this town. It's one of the reasons I didn't want to come back after I graduated college: people move home and they get comfortable and complacent. 
Don't get me wrong, this is a great place. There's a lot of nature and beauty here...but the people are...different. I appreciate nice, expensive things. I want to look nice when I leave the house. I enjoy different cultures, art, history. Because of all that, I'm considered very high maintenance. The opening day of hunting season might as well be a holiday here. Camouflage is considered a normal staple for most people's wardrobes, and is completely acceptable as a home decor pattern.  

I know I sound like a completely judgy bitch right now. That's not my intention. You'd be surprised how much I get crap for "trying" so hard. But I don't do it for others; I do it because it makes me feel good. I also know that I was just lucky enough to be born with a nice physique. (Disclaimer: I'm not at all implying that someone must be thin or look a certain way. None of that matters; there can be beauty in anyone or anything. Warm fuzzies.) But it's really refreshing to go places where most people take pride in their appearance. 

Alright, it's getting a little preachy. Bring it back in. 
There's also the difference between visiting somewhere and actually living there. So would I get the same feeling no matter where I went? I dunno. Maybe. 
One of my friends went to Spain to teach English for a year, and I've considered doing that (but in France). 
I mentioned that to Tee the other day and he just kind of looked at me. I don't blame him. It's essentially saying "I want to move across the world and I don't really care how you feel about it." 

There's a line in Wedding Crashers where Bradley Cooper's character is talking about Rachel McAdam's character and says that she's trying to find herself or whatever. That's how I feel a lot of the time. 
So, I guess that's where I am: over here trying to find myself, or whatever.

Cupid

The celebration of love

Ah, Valentine's Day. Tee was finishing up a cruise, so he was out of the state. I was okay with that; I've never been a huge fan of the holiday. But, I did decide to try and be a good girlfriend. 
Before he left, I had Tee make a grocery list. I shopped so he'd have food when he got back, and cleared off his driveway. I also left a card and present waiting. In the card, I told him that I'd picked 20 things I appreciate about him and enjoy about us...and that he had to find them throughout his house. I would also like to say that I drove out there in a near-blizzard and it took me double the time it usually does. GF of the year right here, thankyouverymuch.

I was excited to see him. But, atypically, I had enjoyed my entire time of being alone. (Did I mention that my roomies were gone too? They all decided to cruise at the same time. Without me. Jerks.) Does this mean I'm actually turning into an adult? NOOOOO! I wasn't even overly irritated at having to get up early and take care of the dog. It's concerning. 

After some hangups getting a ride from the airport, I finally got to see Tee in the afternoon the day after Valentine's. He was happy to see me, and it was good to see him. He brought me some jewelry...not Tiffany's...but some lovely earrings and a few necklace freebies. I really was glad to see him, promise, and not just for the presents. I took him out to dinner and then continued straightening up the house when we got back. I was putting the tissue paper back in the gift bag when I found something else inside. He took a deck of cards and wrote out "52 reasons I love you." Yup. Those words. Those words. 
Interestingly enough, he and I both picked a lot of the same reasons for...appreciating...each other. 

The following weekend we decided to go for a nice post-Valentine's dinner. We got dressed up for a nice seafood dinner, it was great. Except it's still too cold. Then I spent most of the remaining weekend crafting for his basement bar "we're" working on. It's so cute, it's hockey themed. And apparently I'm pretty good at artsing and crafting. 

Last weekend I went shopping with Meredith. It was really nice. I enjoy hanging out with her, and it was nice to get out for a bit. Then we had a birthday party for one of Tee's cousins; I really like spending time with his family. Well, my parents were there too. Sunday we went to Mass like good little Catholics, to a brewery with my parents and Tee's brother, and...I dunno something else. The point is, I've been busy, okay?! Sad as it is, I don't love having a life. 

And that brings me to now-ish. I'm tired, guys. My legs are starting to act up and swell a bit, slowly. I guess a slight perk of all that is having to take breaks somewhat frequently. Which brings me to the next trip--DC at the end of the month. The Sis and BroInLaw are there before heading to their next post, and I'm really excited to see them before they go. 

Oh. I forgot things. Last weekend my car started acting up really badly. Since Tee lives almost an hour away, I was really debating what to do. Until he brought it up, it absolutely didn't occur to me to have him follow me home (he had to come into town anyway). I didn't think of "we have to figure this out," I thought of "I have to figure this out." But, we came up with a plan. I was going to put the extra craft stuff away and he told me to put it in the computer room. I joked (as I have many times before) that he must have meant my dressing room. He hugged me and said it'd be my dressing room very soon. I freaked. I'm glad he couldn't see my face. I was turned toward the bookcase, so the only thing I could think to say was "put some books on that bookshelf." What does that say about me?
Then, this weekend, we were laying in bed chatting (I was trying to convince myself to get up). We were spooning (I really hate that term, I'm not sure why), and he always holds me really close, and he whispered, right into my ear, the words. THE WORDS. Then all of a sudden I kind of mumbled a reciprocation. And I guess in a strange, small way it's true.

He's so lovey. Why does that bother me? It'd be nice to have someone more like me--a combination of on and off; enjoying time together and time apart. I guess, given recent events and introspection, I'll never be a Cinderella. 

A Sense of Community

Small Town, USA

First I have to say that I'm really irritated because I had this post about halfway done and then for some reason it didn't save and now it's lost in the interwebz. And I've been working on Phantom of the Wedding stuff so now I have to try and remember everything. And I also have to try and be as witty as I was. Laaame. 

This past weekend (which is now a couple weekends ago), Tee and his brother and I hopped in the car and headed north. They were taking part in an annual hockey tournament, and I was going along for the adventure. We drove for about 6 hours, and you all know how much I love that. But I drove the last couple of hours, with Tee navigating. We kept driving out into the middle of nowhere until we got to a gorgeous house on a bay, really in the middle of nowhere. We were staying with the boys' aunt and uncle for the weekend. 






Tee and I went for a little walk out on the bay, and we found shelf ice, which I thought was really cool. That's where the wind and such pushes the already frozen ice up and...spoiler alert!...it looks like a shelf. Here's a picture. I did not take it.

While we were wandering along I found one...thing...where two pieces of the ice jutted into each other. It looked kind of like a little ice tent that I thought I might be able to just fit into. And of course I wiggled my way in there. I do regret that neither of us had a camera. 

Later on we had a yummy family dinner, with some yummier wine, and headed to the local inn after. It was this cute little bed and breakfast type place but also had a bar and restaurant. Tee's aunt took me around and showed me all these old pictures of the town; it was really neat. After a couple drinks we were all ready to cash in. 

The next day was the hockey tourney. It was a lot of fun. But it was really freaking cold. It was supposed to start at noon, but apparently that was really only when people were getting there. It was neat though--everyone was so nice and welcoming. It did freak me out that everyone had their trucks parked on the bay...on the actual ice. Growing up with that sort of stuff, I've never felt a need to test the thickness and stability of the ice. It was fine though, and everyone made it out unscathed. In fact, there were some sort of frozen bubbles in the ice: 

Tee played two games and then decided he was finished. I was good with that, since I was frickin freezin out there, Mr. Bigglesworth. We rushed back to get ready to go visit with my Brother, SisInLaw, and Nephew. As I was rushing, I got a random phone call from (what I thought was) the area code of my college town. Turns out it was the Red Cross, and the guy had his whole spiel out before I could let him know that I was diagnosed with autoimmune and wasn't sure I could donate. I thought that'd be an easy out, but he was good. He proposed that I make an appointment and afterwards check to see my eligibility. I just wanted to get off the phone, so I said fine. When I checked later, it turns out I am eligible. Bugger. Not that I don't want to help...I just have this tiny issue of my fragile health condition. Alright, fragile might be a little strong. But it is kind of a loose cannon. I might just not go, which I know is rude, but I feel like I was backed into a corner. Meh.

So we drove a little over an hour to see my fam and OHMYGOSH my nephew is such a little pumpkin! (Isn't it weird that we give babies weird nicknames that don't even make sense? Like, obviously he's not a pumpkin. But it just seems so cute to give them random nicknames like that. We're weird.) 

Anywaysies at one point I picked him up and all of a sudden he put his little arms around my neck and gave me a hug. It was the best thing in the world! Then he did that cute baby thing where they don't really know how to kiss so they just kind of suction onto your face. So cute. 

I also loved getting to hang out with Bro and SisInLaw. SisInLaw sells ItWorks! stuff, so she did a wrap on me at a restaurant. Twas a very strange experience, but also a lot of fun. We didn't stay long, then made the trek back and met Tee's family back at the Inn. 

It was karaoke night, and Tee's aunt kept trying to badger me into singing. I kept putting it off, and finally the proprietor brought out his guitar for a solo open-mic night. Thankfully. (I'm not sure if I've mentioned my feelings on karaoke. There's always one or two people who think they're the best singer in the world, and they're...really not. People who's opinions I care about like my singing, so I don't want to be that guy.) 

About the time karaoke stopped, we all decided it would be a good time to call it a night. As we were bundling up and saying our goodbyes, the owner stopped us. He wanted to sing a song for Tee and I. We waited and a couple people came up to tell us what a cool thing it was to get that song; it really, really was. 

The next day we made the roughly 6 hour drive back. I drove for 4 of those hours, which I'm kind of excited about...because I was able to drive for 4 hours. 

I was exhausted after the weekend, and it took a long time for me to rest up. It was a nice weekend away in the cozy winter wonderland. Now I'd be happy for a weekend in a sandy paradise. 

Offspring

Continue rant.

I can't believe I forgot to touch on vaccines in the last post, especially since it's such a hot topic in the US right now. And, I'm not sure if I've mentioned it to you guys, but my immune system is slightly suppressed (did I lace that with enough sarcasm?). So I'm not really a fan of the current measles outbreak. Like, really really not a fan. So let's talk about this. Or, let me talk about it!

Perhaps it would be good to start with Jenny McCarthy. Poor Jenny McCarthy, who was simply a concerned mother. Tireless Jenny McCarthy who, when her child was diagnosed with autism, made it her mission to "cure" him and to find out how it possibly could have happened. Brilliant Jenny McCarthy, who...somehow...discovered that the culprit was vaccination. It's really not surprising that she was able to come to this conclusion, given her impressive resume. A high school diploma and some time in college, Playboy Playmate of the Year, and list of dumb-blonde-slapstick-comedy acting roles. Here are some of her best quotes: "I was a puke brunette." "I don't sleep in anything. I have to be nude, and if I'm not, I end up ripping my clothes off in the middle of the night." "There was a problem with studios how to write for me. It's a complex kind of character I am, because I'm built like a bunny but I talk like a dude." 
Ah, just inspiring. She only speaks on the real, important issues. It's no wonder that people listen to her over the scientists and doctors who have spent years studying and working with these diseases. They don't hold a candle to her!

Okay, okay, I'll be fair. It really is understandable that the anti-vaccine crowd doesn't just want to pour money into "big pharma." But I wonder...do these people take vitamins, or medicine when they're not feeling well? If they get diabetes or cancer, will they decide against insulin or chemo? If they need stitches, will they refuse local anesthesia? Because, unless you go completely off the grid and disconnect from society, it's near impossible to pay into the pharmaceutical companies. 

Many parents feel that they know what's best for their children. Well, they do. Except when they're fostering the return of debilitating, highly contagious diseases. Sometimes the government needs to step in and make laws, because you're making freaking stupid decisions for yourself and your kids! 

The experts say a new outbreak is what's needed for people to once again see the necessity for vaccination. That's scary. Both for the idea of people's shortsightedness, and the people who are getting sick. 
I've said it before and I'll say it again: WHAT is wrong with people? Maybe going completely off the grid and disconnecting from society isn't such a bad idea.

Children

Adorable little jerks.

Like many people with no children of their own, I have a lot of opinions about how they should be raised. One of these crazy ideas is that they should behave themselves in public, and not act like crazed, wild animals. Weird, right? Apparently parents in the US think so. 

Yesterday, I went to a brewery with my parents. Straight up bar, not a bar/restaurant thing. There was a group there, I'm guessing it was a couple of families. The parents were sitting there chatting away while their kids screamed and ran all over the damn place. I'm not even exaggerating this time. They kept running laps or something, and I was about two seconds away from tripping one of them. They were probably 7 or 8, so they were definitely old enough to know better and not act like complete imbeciles. But, it's not really the kids' fault. Because who taught them how to behave decently in public? Obviously not their parents. 

We went out for a nice dinner the last time I was in Paris. (Which, btw, I have become obsessed with again. I think I should probably just live there. Anyone want to fund my move to Paris? And...uh...my life after that? Cause Paris is expensive and I still don't speak French well. That language is hard. Plus, Duolingo keeps teaching me ridiculous phrases like "Did you come to kill us?" Because I'm sure that will be helpful at some point and GOOD-GOD I hope that's never actually a helpful phrase!!! Um. Yeah. I think that's a good place to stop this rant.) 
Anyway so we went out to a nice dinner and after we were there for a while a group came in with a little girl. I'd guess she was about 5 or 6, and an absolute angel. She colored or something the whole time, and talked to them a little bit. There was no screaming or running around or general tomfoolery. I remember commenting to Sister and BroInLaw that it would be a completely different scene in the US, and the kid would be running around like a neanderthal. 

Why is that? There seems to be a trend in the good ol' U S of A that kids reign supreme. Nobody is allowed to make a noise that might wake the sleeping baby, anywhere and everywhere is a playground, teachers are blamed for a kid's bad grades, and anyone who questions the child-ruler has to deal with the mama grizzly (thanks Sarah Palin). 
Again, I don't have kids so it's easy for me to judge, but I really don't think I'd have the selflessness or patience to let a kid run my life. And I wouldn't want them to. A parent's job is to raise the kid; to teach them how to be a halfway decent human being and get them ready for the world. Because they don't have the cognitive ability to make logical and reasonable decisions. 
I have a niece who's first instinct is to be afraid of things. If she's not familiar with something, it's scary. Two of those things are nutcrackers and fire. Nutcrackers...silly. Just a kid thing. But her parents' run around and remove all the Christmas nutcrackers instead of being reasonable. Fire...okay, that could be useful. But it goes to things like birthday cakes and fires for warmth. When one of my sisters tried to explain that it was okay in the fireplace, she got yelled at. Obviously there's a whole lot more to that. There's a whole mess of crazy there. 

Then you've got the parents who want to give their kids absurd names "to be unique." UGH. I mean, this kid is stuck with a weirdo name that nobody can pronounce for their entire life. They have to deal with peers, try to get a job, face the world with some sort of confidence. But they've already been set up with their stupid effing names. I completely support the judge that wouldn't let a couple name their kid Nutella. Wtf. Don't reproduce anymore. I honestly read an article around Christmas about a girl whose name was Abcde and pronounced ab-suh-dee. It made me angry. It still does. 

As you can see, I have a lot of opinions on this, and most of them are negative. Maybe if I get to have kids someday my opinions will change. I kind of hope not. If any of you have offspring and would like to put me in my place, I'm all for it. I'm okay with being wrong. 

All that being said, I finally get to meet my youngest nephew this year. He's almost a year old, but the drive is about 8 hours and I hadn't been able to make it with my dumb legs. 
Don't get me wrong, I really do love kids. They're needy and drooly and poopy and screamy and fantastic.