Fashion Trends are Overrated

I need to keep a notepad next to my bed. I have weird dreams.

Seems like waterproof hiking shoes were a good purchase, given the places I’m going and tours I’m taking.

Seems like most women do not wear rain coats. Let’s be honest, I’ll be pegged as a tourist the second I step on the street. After reading about fashion dos and don’ts, I realized that I don’t even follow fashion rules here. Why would I try to overseas? Good grief. I know how to keep it classy and goodness knows I’m not one for high heels or short skirts so, I think we’re good. Layers, hoodies, hat, scarf, who knows what else. (I might be starting to freak out a little bit, just go with it)

A night with a girlfriend is exactly what I needed – the ability to connect with people on an emotional level is something I am grateful for today.

I say ‘What are you doin’ to my cats more often than you might think. 7 years and they still get into all kinds of trouble. In the best way. They make my life more interesting, and definitely keep me on my toes. Love them.

I think having plants in a home is a necessity. I buy ones that can’t easily be killed. It’s better that way.

Building muscle is fun. Now I need to change my diet up just a bit to ensure I’m protecting that muscle (read: more protein).

I haven’t painted in over a month – I hope to do that on Sunday. Make some time to just sit and be and do. It’s been a challenge lately.

It’s supposed to be 60’s and sunny this weekend so I may actually have the opportunity to pull weeds too. A life with a yard.

I have a deluxe Scrabble board that I got for Christmas that has never been used. That really needs to be rectified.

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries you guys, I’m telling you. Every character is admirable in some way – the main 4 characters especially. I could go on and on but I won’t – I tend to get a bit verbose on things like that. Just, do yourself a favor and check it out if you like that sort of thing.

Grocery store. Also something I need to do this weekend (as much as I hate it). As close as Ireland is, I still have a week of work, food, chores, and gym to complete, with a few appointments sprinkled in there.

Happy weekend.

Solo road trip.

I took a lot of notes on the road. At this point I’m at a hotel in Sterling, CO. I knew there was potential for a wintery mix, but I was not prepared for lack of visibility and freezing slush on the roads. Add commercial and semi tucks driving like the roads were dry, spraying slush onto my windshield, and passing without signaling, and I was done. The first hotel had no rooms, the second only had two. $150 but WiFi and hot breakfast included, and I didn’t have to get back on the road. Sold.

The pizza delivery guy brought multiple plates with my order. Not sure if he thought I was sharing, or if he thought I’d actually use a plate. (I ate straight from the box, cross-legged on the bed watching The Lego Movie)

I’m grateful there’s a fridge in here…I have a lot of food left over.

Just finished watching The Rock. It’s so good.

So, some road observations:

I find when starting out a road trip alone, I run through every worst case scenario possible. I also have to remind myself multiple times that I’m fully capable of changing a tire, filling them with air, and checking my fluids.

I noticed a few guys outside working, just walking by the road and it struck me that I’ve never heard someone with a job like that say, I would love to have a desk job. I’m sure the weather extremes suck, but it must be nice to be outside. I love being outside.

I like trying to figure out in my head what time I’ll get to a city. When i was a kid I always asked my dad how he knew down to the minute and now it’s fun for me. (I never claimed to be cool)

It’s extremely challenging for me get to my air settings comfortable. Like, first it’s too cold, then it’s just my feet that are too cold, pull up my sleeves, pull down my sleeves, adjust the direction of the airflow…it’s ridiculous.

“I’m not hungry, I’m just bored” I said repeatedly. Seriously, what is it about road trips that makes me want to just eat junk food? I managed to keep it to chex mix and almonds, with cheese and crackers for lunch.

I still hate driving over bridges.

After I passed North Platte I had a Samwise Gamgee moment. It was the furthest west I’d ever driven.

I passed a flat bed trailer carrying what looked like a WWII era tank and a soccer mom minivan and I have questions.

Does anyone know the specific reason hitchhiking is illegal or do we all just assume it’s because of people who hurt other people? I guess what I mean is what was the catalyst that pushed the law to be signed?

I need to work out tomorrow. Squatting and lifting baby Jackson totally counts. I can’t wait! Stupid snow, go away!

*gasp*

It happened. I went a day without posting. But, to be fair, not without writing, because half this post was drafted yesterday and I just didn’t manage to get it published. It was bound to happen but I do not intend for that to become commonplace. I know you were very concerned.

I know my cats love me unconditionally because they still rub their little faces on my arm even though they know they’re going to get shocked. The hesitation before they make contact means they know it’s coming and do it anyway. I’m not sure if that’s stupidity or what, but I’ll take it. I mean come on, we’ve all done dumb things to show someone we care about them, amirite? (I’m totally right)

I pick the nail polish off my fingernails after it starts to peel. The nail polish on my thumbnail is always the most difficult to remove sans nail polish remover. What makes the thumbnail mightier than the rest? Why does the nail polish adhere to it more effectively? I don’t get it.

Who looked at rhubarb and decided it might be a good idea to try to eat it? I mean look, I can enjoy a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie every now and then, but it has to be ice cold with cool whip. That aside, seriously. (I would have died in the ‘hunter/gatherer’ times. Oooo look berries! Why are they so red? Oh well.)

I enjoy working out every time I go but I also enjoy sitting on my couch. So…yeah…

It’s amazing to me the predicaments we as people can get ourselves into (and out of) based on ego, pride, self-centeredness, fear, etc. But equally as surprising are the situations we get into (and out of) based on care, concern, passion, selflessness, empathy, and love. Human emotion is varied, unpredictable and fascinating.

What happens to the phone numbers and email addresses that go unused or sit dormant? Do they eventually just disappear? I mean I made a LOT of email addresses as a pre-teen/teen. Does some program go through and clean them up? Could I be drmrgrl36 again? (I think that was one. Wow. I dunno.)

Interstellar was as good the 3rd time as the 1st. I caught way more watching it at home. I think probably because I wasn’t so caught up in the music that I was able to actually focus on what was happening in the movie.

I don’t know if you guys have figured it out yet but I’m just a big geek/nerd/dork or whatever. I wear Harry Potter and Zelda t-shirts, go on and on about things that aren’t particularly important, think about things I can’t really wrap my mind around (like the vastness of the universe, that one gets me more often than I care to admit) and laugh at my own jokes. I have a Harry Potter tattoo, I saw LOTR in the theater more than 2 or 3 times, I’ve probably got half the Marvel movies embedded in my memory, and playing word games is something I really enjoy doing in my limited spare time. I’m just grateful today that I embrace that instead of hide it.

Ok. What’s with the worm smell after the first few rain showers in the spring? How do people enjoy that smell? I remember walking through my neighborhood as a kid, being seriously grossed out by the earthworms that crawled across the pavement. I’d tiptoe around them and probably squeal a little bit. (Ok, so I’m a little dramatic too. Whatever) I’d also run in fear at the sound of the tornado siren tests on Saturday mornings. I was kind of a wuss.

I’m going to Denver today! Woo! That means I’m spending 8 hours alone in a car today, but the payoff will be SO worth it. Visiting friends and babies, enjoying not being at work, and coming back to what I expect to be quite an enjoyable 1st full week in April.

Have no fear, I still intend on posting every day, even on vacation. There MIGHT even be a second post tonight, just because I’m going to have 8 hours alone in a car to think. (That’s as frightening as it is promising)