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We’ve been singing this song quite a bit lately and there’s a reason. The backstory is my parents have sold their place on the coast. They still have their boats at the marina, but the main house has been sold. I’ll admit, it was a little bittersweet for me as they’ve had a place somewhere in Southport since I was in college, but they are grateful to be out from under the pressures of maintaining two homes that require constant prettying up, so it’s gone. And I totally appreciate that. That was one of the places we had to go for a vacation. The other is our timshare through Wyndham Vaction Resorts. We bought ours on the resale market and saved a LOT of money and it has served us well for the past seven years. So, what to do now. Will likes to camp. I don’t. It was hot, dirty and too much trouble for the amount of time we were there. I’m a chronic hand washer and didn’t have that luxury while tent camping as our site had no water and the bath house was forever away and was nasty, even if I did decide to go down there. That was a $400 weekend that remains packed up in storage only to be talked about in jest.
Moving on to Holiday Road. Mom and dad decided their retirement needed to include a motorhome. Come to find out, they have some friends who have some friends who had one for sale. So B and F hooked mom and dad up with MJ and B and my camping future would forever be changed. It wasn’t quite what mom and dad were wanting in one, so my dad called me. It was an incredible deal. Super sweet, to be exact. Will and I talked it over and we decided we would become the new owners of Holiday Road. This past Saturday it was official. We drove down to Southport and picked her up. We stayed at an RV campground that probably set the bar kind of high for my future of what to expect from an RV campground. Will backed her right up, we hooked up the power, water and turned the a/c on. Bliss. This is my idea of camping. There was no cable there and our satellite tracker is gone, so we had no television, but I did have the forethought to take some movies, so we watched movies when we were in. She needs some cosmetic work and we’ll do it slowly and little bits at a time, but she’s awesome and we had a blast.
Meet Holiday Road:
Camping is so much more fun with appliances and a/c
Mar says these t-shirts will make our adventure complete. While I think they’re awesome, I’m not quite ready to have Olivia repeat what my shirt reads
And here’s the design for our Mud Run t-shirts! We’re so excited. Well, I’m speaking on behalf of my entire team, but I’m sure they would agree. Loqi came up with the name and I threw a little of this, little of that and next thing you know, voila, we done got us a team shirt!
You should be able to click on the piccie and it enlarge enough to read, but, if not, it reads: “Ladies and Grunts When high heels and combat boots take to the trails…”
Hooah!
The USMC Mud Run is just about a month away. Man, where does time go?!?
We have finalized our t-shirt design and I’m working with the printer to get them done. *squee* Will post a piccie of it when done. What? Looking the part isn’t the most important thing? I know it’s not. Just teasing.
I’ve been consistent in my going to the gym and cross training. Evening runs are the problem and mornings are totally out for me simply because I’m not a morning person. I don’t function in the mornings and I surely don’t want to tack on the extra hour+ to the beginning of my day. Hey, I’m honest about it, so that’s got to count for something. While it might count, it doesn’t do much for preparing me. I’m hoping my outdoor progress will be the equivalent to half my gym progress. I’m good with that. Dear teammates: Please remember you love me for me…not my athletic ability. xo
I’ve also started back to Weight Watchers. This time it’s on the buddy system (Hi, A!!). Week 1: Awesome. Week 2: Weigh in showed I ate week 1. Crap. Here’s to hoping week 3 is back on track. As much as I joked about it, I didn’t think week 2 was that bad of a grazing week for me and my food choices were pretty good. We’ll see.
I’m trying hard to like running, but I just can’t seem to get it together. I read bloggers who give me hope and inspiration, but, when it comes time to lace up the shoes, the mojo just isn’t there. I want it to be so badly. Someone told me when I get to where I’m consistent it will be better. I hope so. Now to work on getting consistent.
We bought bikes, but Olivia doesn’t really want to ride hers, so there’s not a whole lot we can do with that unless we go one at a time and that’s not fun. Hoping to make it to the National Whitewater Center to do the ropes course as I’ve never actually done one and would like to before the run and we can ride the trails there, too.
My skydiving adventure keeps getting delayed by the weather. Monday through Friday the weather is awesome in the morning. Weekends all cloud cover. I’ve been excited about it, but now I’m ready to just do it. It’s getting annoying not being able to go.
There’s another something fun on our horizon, but I don’t want to post about it until we get it and it’s done. Please don’t ask if it’s a baby. It’s not. As much as I wish it was, it isn’t. Working on finalizing that in the next couple of weeks. We refer to it as “Holiday Road.”
This week’s goals are to continue working to turn my high hopes and aspirations into reality and keep on working towards love winning.
Be well…
Susan
…rocks!!
This was a week of obstacles combined with a huge desire to do-over. I was discouraged and down because Friday is here and I had not started running yet. I was not going to let it get the best of me. I donned my kick-arse shoes (which, by the way, are totally not the right shoes for me to be running in even though they look awesome and are great for walking, so I’ll be buying new shoes. Soon.) and went to the gym. I did week 1, day 1 (W1D1) of the Couch to 5k program, but lost track of my times on the treadmill, so it was more of week 2 times and was about 50/50 run/walk times. I feel great. I’m ready for more, but have no fears of becoming an over achiever with this little jaunt.
My goal is the Fallen Heroes Memorial 5K in April. Two days after the Bon Jovi concert, which I’m more way more stoked about than my first 5K run.
Hi, I’m Susan. I’m a runner.
166 miles down. 202 more until we stop for the night. Welcome, vacation. Oh how I’ve longed for you.
And I’m gonna be rocking with them in April. American Express presale started this morning at 10. So, I was able to get tickets AND use some of my AMEX points for the tickets. Score. Score. Score.
Bon Jovi’s new CD, The Circle, is the Amazon.com MP3 Daily Deal for the bargain price of $3.99. You’re welcome.
I will have my tickets for their concert soon. Soon as in this week. Thankyouverymuch.
I’m.Totally.Stoked. about this.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Bon Jovi in concert. Now if tickets would just go on sale so I can get them and relax.
I’m serious about the mud run. Will might not think I am and most people I tell about it roll their eyes at me, but I am. We will have to have a four-person team so I’m hoping he’ll get serious about it and we can get him through physical therapy to participate. He is supposed to tell his therapist about it and let them decide what they think the likelihood is he will be able to participate. If he can’t then I need 3 more. Anyone? Anyone?
Dr. Huha listened to my plea to get me off the seizure medication and we’re working my way backwards to something much more mild. He suggested, in front of my 4-1/2 year old, that I practice safe relations to avoid the three-headed baby I’m concerned about should my eggs do something asinine like fertilize. A herd of wild buffalo led by Cindewella and Pwince Chahming couldn’t have broken her trance off her mindless scribbling, but the word s.e.x. had her at full attention. He did that scream-whisper when he repeated it like I didn’t understand it the first two times he said it. Jayzus man…I get it! That wasn’t an “I’m confused” look. It was more of an “I’m terrified because now I have to avert a s.e.x. explanation when I leave here” look.
Anyway, Dr. Huha has reconfigured my medication and I should be able to hit the gym soon. I’m totally ready for this. Giving up my indulgences is another story. I’m having a hard time sticking too that…as I have been for quite some time.
I researched shoes. And I found these. I could have picked the boring blue, but I wanted the bright pink. 10% off be damned. I was able to search out a 20% off coupon code on retailmen0t(dot)com. With free shipping. And they are a Upromise partner. And they have free returns should I not like my new kicks. win-win-win-win.
We are also in the wee beginnings of something new. It’s pretty big and we aren’t sure what the outcome will be or if it will even work out for us. We could use some prayers and some good wishes for the best possible outcome, whatever that may be. I’ll update on it as soon as I can, but it may not be for several months, so keep us tucked in the recesses of your mind, wouldja?
Contractor called today. They want to frame the room addition tomorrow and set the windows and doors. They’ll have to come back another day to do siding and inside, but should be no more than a 2-day job. We’ll install the lighting and whatnot. It’s not fayncee, but it’s something. I got a lil nervous about not having a permit since most of the structure was already here (slab and roof), but applied anyway. Neighbor did same project without permit. Code enforcement will come inspect ours and I’m afraid he’ll get busted. Conscience is in my way, but I did what I felt we needed to do. Fine is double the cost of permit. We picked up the 2x4s, door, and insulation today. Windows we’ve had for a couple of weeks. Siding we couldn’t agree on because I didn’t see the exact thing he said to get, so I’ll let contractor pick it up. Kudos to Lowe’s for giving military discount. Need to pick out the lighting – think I’ve found what I like and it’s on clearance – blinds and floor covering. Pieces of cake.
Guesties arrive next week. So excited. The boys are going to the race. There’s gonna be a girl’s night out in the BIG city. Shannon and Shanny will be joining us so it’s sure to be a blast. Can’t wait.
Until next time….
This weekend is the gala for the NC Heroes Fund. I’m doubly excited because not only is it a fund raiser in support of North Carolina’s military, but my cookbook is supposed to be one of the silent auction items. I know it’s not the cruise or fancy things others donated, but it’s mine and I’ll revel in my glory. If they use it. So, I needed a dress. And I bought one. It was a 70% off. It’s the only dress that I have EVER bought that needed to be altered in the bubbies area ’cause it was too big. argh. I had an alterations appointment set, but, as I was getting ready to walk out the door, I simply could not bear to spend the savings on the dress in alterations, so I had a brilliant idea. I broke out some safety pins and it worked like a charm. I’ll need some double sided tape to complete it, but it will keep the front of my dress from lo0king like one of those things you toss change in at a toll booth. Mind you, had someone had the urge to toss some coinage in the cleavage I would donated it to the cause.
Roots done. Hair highlighted last night.
Hotel room booked.
Hair appointment for an updo or semi-updo made. Nothing like booking a hair appointment at an out of town salon. How did I find it? I googled “hair salon” and used google maps to judge its proximity to the hotel and it was 6 miles. I told an out of town friend where I was going and she checked with her salon and she said it has a good reputation and, in her words, “you should be safe.”
Will’s tux should be better be ready to pick up tomorrow evening.
Just gotta throw a few duds in a bag and we’ll be set. Didn’t pay to have my dress steamed either, so it’s hanging in the guest bath for a steamy shower this evening. After that, I’ll iron it with a cool iron under a pillow case. Hey, it worked with my wedding dress.
With safety pins, double sided tape and shower steaming my dress, I wonder why I even bothered to have my roots done.
Be well…
Catherine finally got the call she’s been waiting over three years for. She’s the mama of a baby girl. Go give her some love, would ya?
This past weekend was the Cheap Trick, Poison, Def Leppard concert. It totally Rocked. Rocked, I said. Once more for good measure: R.O.C.K.E.D. It wasn’t without some amusement, though. C’mon folks, just because my brain misfires doesn’t mean my snark has completely gone away and I made Will’s eyes roll on more than one occasion. Shocker, huh?
We bought tickets months ago and had planned on just the two of us going. I scoped out the pavillion seating and toyed with how much to pay, where to sit, etc. before they went on sale. I had my coveted code so I could buy early and I had two browsers that each held seats in two different sections and I toggled until I picked one. No, I’m not kidding. I was so stinking stressed. We ended up in the “moderately” priced seats. (Did I mention the show totally rocked? NO? It did.) Well, I ended up with two girlfriends, each with a friend, who bought last minute tickets so we all met up for dinner before the show. Bless Will’s heart. He was the tablespoon of testosterone for the night with five women around. He was a good sport about it and he and my friend M are bosom buddies anyway so I had no concerns about there being an equal distribution of conversation. When considering buying the tickets, I had to take into account the concert is in August in NC and it’s still hot ’round these parts this time of the year and it is an outside pavillion. Should I buy lawn seats? I really, really wanted seats to be closer. Now, one time we had covered seats and we were the very last row of the expensive seats and the guy who put his feet up on the back of mine paid half the price. Didn’t want that. The time before that, it was an August concert and (this next part’s kinda gross) the lady’s leg next to mine was sweating on me and I was so grossed out so we got up and left. I knew better, but I bought covered seats in hell hot August, anyway. I was afraid if I bought lawn seats it would rain and who wants to be wet and soggy in the hell hot humidity of August? Seats it was. (Useless anxiety, I know…I’m plagued by it)
Insert weather report, “this is going to be the hottest weekend we’ve had so far. Stay inside and stay cool.” *sigh* Wanna know the last time we heard that weather report? When I caved and we went camping for Father’s Day. Folks, if you want extreme heat or extreme cold, just tell me to plan something expensive and it’ll happen. Dang it was hot. 94. In the shade.
Traffic was a nightmare, of course, and Will refused to drive in the left lane fearing he wouldn’t be able to get back over. Thank goodness M told us she would let us over in front of her (She was a good 1/2 mile ahead of us). We were herded into a parking lot at a movie theater that was a mile and a half or so from the pavillion. Yes. I know! Since we had to walk out of the exit of the parking lot, Will refused to let’s get back in the car and just drive up to the next one. (Just so you know, he regretted that decision BIG TIME on the walk back to the car). I’m a sissy to heat anyway and my swimmy-headed stuff makes it even worse. It was hot, people. I was sweating in places I didn’t know could sweat. As my friend S put it via text message, “I’m sweatin like a wh*re in church.”
Cheap Trick was great. Love their music and always have. Great opener, even though we missed a little of the show. I’d see them again in a heartbeat.
Poison. Brett Michaels kept reminding me it has been 22 years since I saw theLook What the Cat Dragged In tour. 22 years since my friend J and I rocked out as sophomores in high school while her dad hung out in the parent’s room at the coliseum. His jeans were very, very, very tight. I asked Will, “Can you see that?!?” Of course he was clueless. I had to point out the obvious. Brett’s pants were so tight his package was visible from 3 price levels back!!! Without binoculars and my contacts were blurry from the heat. However, he did a shout out to our military. Loved that. We also did a waving of the cell phones since the waving of the lighters is outdated.
Def Leppard. Oh. My. Goodness. Someone told me I would not realize just how much I liked Def Leppard until I heard them live and he was right. It was awesome. Sadly, but, at this point in the night, the heat had started to get to me and I was feeling kind of bad, but I still managed to have a good time. Phil Collen is awesome. His playing shirtless was a little annoying, but his 6-pack abs made up for it – a little bit. However, it wasn’t enough to make up for this cowesque chewing of gum. Holy.Crap. Imagine the cashier at McDon*ld’s with the big swirled up hair, her 8″ long electric blue nails with the glittery flowa for five dolla popping her gum as she takes your order. Dude, it was horrible and everytime they showed him on the jumbotron it did me in. Of course, I had to point that out to captain obvious, too. I’m plagued by the little annoyances in life. I can’t help it. It was a kicking show though. So very worth it.
A few highlights of the evening:
The guy next to me was so much fun. Not Will, the other guy next to me. Not that Will’s not fun, but stranger fun is different fun. We didn’t talk much, but we shared some snickers as some throwbacks made their way to their seats. His friend looked just like Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I wanted to say something so bad to his friend. And I would have, but after watching him gorge himself on the cheese covered pretzel in 94* temps (in the shade) with 5000% humidity and swig an $11 can of Bud Light Lime and belch, I opted not to. Besides, I’m sure he’s heard it all before.
We (read: Mainly me because Will didn’t quite find the same humor in it as I did) played “I spy a mullet” and I counted more on women than men. Of course, the men were sporting skullets. The smell of Aqua Net was in the air and more air guitar was played than should be allowed by law. See, since we parked at the far end of the earth, I didn’t risk taking my camera and being rejected with it and the camera on my phone was too slow to capture some of the best moments. This concert had so many shining examples of exactly why history repeats itself. Then again, it also had some shining reminders of exactly why I’ve strived to better myself over the years. The poor beyotches who wore pleather bustiers better be glad they were wearing shredded jeans for ventilation, otherwise, they may have stroked out. Oh, yeah. There was one who was barefoot. With a mullet. Good times.
Lessons learned:
- In the hell hot of August for an outdoor show, buy lawn seats so you can actually feel the breeze as it blows by – if it blows. Even though it may be shoulder to shoulder, go for the cheap seats and spring for the VIP parking. That additional $30 would have been money well spent and my concert going amigas agreed whole-heartedly. At 11:15 at night we were still sweating. Profusely.
- Spring for VIP parking anyway. Screw the hike from the interstate. It’s for the birds. Especially in those sandals that look brand new and you thought you just forgot you had them. Nope you didn’t forget you had them. They freaking kill your feet. Not the heels…the bottoms of your feet so you have blisters and it hurts to walk in socks on carpet. They didn’t even make it back into the house. They’re waiting for trash day.
- I’m not supposed to drink because of the medication I’m on. I would loved to have taken advantage of my bucket of margarita mix I bought for July 4 that is still staring me down every time I open the pantry, but freezing it without tequila just makes it a popsicle and who wants that? I sipped a couple of beers at dinner, but my med makes beer taste stale and sodas taste flat. Wished it made burgers and pizza taste like crap, too. Being sober is a lot of fun when it comes to watching others. White folk ain’t got no rhythm. ’specially drunk ones. Of course some of us sober ones don’t either, but still. Singing along? Oh yeah baby….Like Mar says, “loud and proud is the only way to be.” And I was they were. You could have cemented the lid on my bucket and I couldn’t have carried a tune, but I belted out every lyric I knew…and some I didn’t, but I was in good company. And that is always fun
We had a great time and I’m glad we went. Was great to see M and she is doing fantastic from her heart surgery. She still has some days where her chest gets sore, especially if she’s been sick and coughs a lot, but the best part about it is she is she was there.
