Weekend Review {12/11}

What?  A weekend review on a Monday?  Don't worry, I'm just as surprised as you are..

Here's a brief show of things that you may have missed out on:

We decorated for Christmas.
This pained Teh German since Germans wait until MUCH closer to Christmas to decorate.
It was not allowed this year since we were hosting the neighborhood holiday gathering.

This made us cry.
Teh German even came in my office after I posted it on instagram to give me a hug and cry a little with me.

We went to a friend's annual holiday party and this was the entertainment, pre-white elephant exchange.

I ran some miles.

My peppermint lights on my desk bring me great joy when I open the office.

Pre-FRIDAY

Wednesday was my last day of class for the semester.  That evening, Teh PT Wife and I went out for dinner and we went to the mall so I could use some coupons I'd received.  Honestly, I needed a break from all the things and it was perfect.  Also, I got new smelly things from Bath and Body Works and new bras from VS.

Thursday, I worked, but used some precious PTO time to leave have lunch with Teh German (which did not go well at all), then went home to clean.  The cleaner stood us up on Wednesday and I was stressed about it since we had people coming to our house on Saturday evening.  I really needed to study, but I knew that if I tried to study, I would only be thinking of cleaning, so I made a trade-off.  I had almost finished the upstairs when Teh German came home. 

Teh German volunteered to help clean and I tasked him with our bathroom sink, which I was looking least forward to.  I should have gave him more tasks, but instead put it on myself and went downstairs to study.  Teh German took care of dinner, which was good, and then it was back to studying.

FRIDAY

Instead of going into the office Friday morning, I teleworked until it was time to head to campus for my exams.  I got up at regular time so I would actually be productive.  This is also why there was a drive-by blog on Friday morning.

My computer science exam was from 1-4.
My discrete math exam was from 5:30-8:30.

I had intentions to swing by the Chiro's office on Friday before my exams, but failed at that.  I also failed at studying for my math exam.  #YOLO.  I tried to look over some stuff before the exam, but I was DONE with all of it. 

Fortunately, my math exam wasn't anything I found impossible, so I stumbled through it and walked out at 7:45 feeling confident that I had done my best, but more importantly, what's done is done. 

I called Teh German who had been on standby.  We agreed to meet at Sam's Club to pick up items for the neighborhood holiday gathering and then go to dinner.  Teh German hadn't eaten enough snacks, so he was a bit hangry, but he survived Sam's and then we headed to Sesame for dinner. 

Shenanigans at Sam's...

I had eaten leftovers before my math exam so I didn't get the hunger stupids, so I had an adult milkshake and a fry. 

We asked for our check and a manager came to our table to explain that we were part of a pay it forward chain.  What this meant was that someone else had covered our bill.  We wanted to keep it going, so we selected a table to pay for.  They wanted to keep it going but it was almost closing time and there wasn't anyone else in the restaurant for them to pay for.  Faith in humanity restored a little more.

 

Park Circle Christmas Tree

When we got home, I went to bed.  Teh German stayed up and I have no recollection of him even coming to bed, but Pax did give me a rude awakening around 3:30 (actually, it wasn't Pax that woke me, but Teh German jerking awake, which woke me) puking up chunks of the cheese stick he'd been chewing on earlier.  I considered just leaving until later to clean up, but got up and let the beasts out and cleaned it up.

SATURDAY

I got to sleep for another hour after cleaning up Pax's mess.  My alarm was set for 0430 so I could make it to Kiawah Island for my half marathon.  It took me an hour to get there, but it was recommended runners arrive by 0630 to make sure that they were able to get a shuttle and be at the start line on time since the race started at 0800 on the dot.

In a stroke of genius, I had grabbed a dog blanket to wrap myself in while I waited for the race to start.  Since it was under 40°F and had been raining for the prior 36 hours, it was totally worth it and several people commented that it was a great idea (as they stood there shivering).  When the shuttle dropped us off at the start area, they had opened up the club house and runners were sitting a meeting space on the floor.  They were sitting.  I took the opportunity to take a nap.  I knew I was super tired since I was able to sleep with noise and goings on around me.  This is usually not the case.  I woke up once when a lady started leading stretches around 0700 and I went back to sleep and when I woke up, the room was mostly empty.  It was about 10 minutes until start time.  I don't know what woke me up, but I'm glad.  I kinda hope that someone would have woken me up if I hadn't woke up on my own right on time.  I folded up the dog blanket that I had gotten to use as a pillow instead of a blanket and left it in a corner.  I figured if I came back by I could pick it up, if not, then it was ok to donate since I had gotten it from a thrift store to begin with.

I made a new friend at the start line when I struck up a conversation with her because she was wearing a Run Disney shirt.  We even exchanged phone numbers!  It made the first 6 miles soo much better.  Unfortunately, my (formerly) super awesome earbuds turned themselves off (since I hadn't used them since I was chatting with Friend) and I couldn't get them to turn back on (because they don't turn on unless they have been on the charger if they have been turned off).  It's complicated.  Anyways, the last 7 miles, I spent striking up conversations with strangers and enjoying the run without my earbuds in (which makes it much easier to interact with those runners around you).  I was sad because it was hours I could have devoted to my audiobook, but glad because it really made the run better.

Eventually, I came upon the finish line.  I grabbed a bowl of soup and some water.  I scarfed down my soup and passed off my beer ticket to an unassuming large bearded dude who was waiting in the beer line since I knew I wasn't going to be using it.  Then, I headed towards the shuttle.  I had no idea where I was, so I opted to leave the blanket behind.

I hadn't parked in the designated parking area because I hadn't wanted to wait in traffic, and I was never more glad.  It ended up being a mud pit as it got warmer (by like 5°) and there were several tow trucks circling the parking lot having to pull people out of the mud.  I headed towards home.  I stopped at McDonald's for a sweet tea and cheeseburger and then headed home.  I greeted my homies and then headed upstairs for a shower, a stretch/roll session, and a nap. 

#DatMedalTho....
Seriously, that medal is the only thing that got me out of bed at before the asscrack of dawn in the cold, wet, morning...

I slept for a few hours (as is customary after any run longer than a 5k) and unwillingly rolled out of the bed.  I still had some cleaning to do before the party... which mostly didn't happen.  I vacuumed up some gross areas on the floor and Teh German and I moved the couches around to open up the room a bit, but otherwise, I said fuck it.  Oh yeah, and I wiped off the counters and put vinyl table cloths on the table and island.  I think Teh German might have wiped down the bathroom, but I don't really know.  I used some logic and decided that people were coming and the floor was just going to get gross and the toilet was going to get used, so why bother cleaning it?  SO I didn't.  #notsorry.

Pax and I spooned for the first time ever!
Be still my heart!

While I had been napping, Teh German had decorated the front of the house with lights.  I considered this festive enough based on all the activity I'd endured for the prior 36 hours.  I started laying out food around 6.  By 7, we were ready.  I was actually upstairs changing into my holiday finest when our first guests arrived, Teh PT Fam.

Neighbor Besties!

Please check out Teh German's blue ball...
#Mine

I was pleased with how the party went.  We ate and drank and there was merriment.  The dogs got to have a sleep over at Teh Dental Hygienist's house so there were no possibilities of escape.  The white elephant exchange gave me a valid reason to use my megaphone in the house (the megaphone I received at the prior year's neighborhood white elephant exchange).  I actually ended up getting Teh PT Wife's gift, which was extra funny since I was with her when she bought it.  There was a few rounds of Cards Against Humanity played, but by that point, we were all pretty intoxicated and focus levels were low.

I also had set up the photobooth as an extra shenanigans thing.  I was pissed to discover my super expensive tripod got fucked up at the wedding, but let's focus on the positive, shall we?

SUNDAY

It was after 0100 when Teh German and I finally went to sleep.  We slept until about 0930, at which point Teh German started sighing incessantly (a sure sign of hangover).  I was fine other than a mild headache, so I administered some ibuprofen to myself and Teh German and encouraged him to eat.

He didn't even finish a bowl of cereal before he went and laid down on the couch and promptly went back to sleep.  I wasn't tired and I have a very annoying manner post-drunkenness.  Specifically, a crazy amount of energy to do all the things.  I channeled that.  I picked up the dogs and we went on a walk (mostly for me to stretch my post-run stiffness out), then I came home and made a menu for the week and a store list.  I finally unrolled the puzzle I had brought home with me from MD that Teh Running Bestie and I had started, but still wanted to accomplish some things.  I decided to accomplish going to the store.  I left Teh German a note before I left, but when I got home, he was in the same place I had left him in - still asleep on the couch.

My first stop was coffee, because why not?  Then I headed to Lidl (which is Aldi competition) to check it out since it just opened in our town.  It was still unbearably crowded, but I survived.  Then I headed to Walmart to pick up the few items that I hadn't found at Lidl.  It was as horrible as you'd imagine, but I survived.  The best part of the trip was when I got home and got to use my new super power carabiner hooks I got from the Dollar Tree so I don't have to make a million trips to the car to empty it.

Cup holders on buggies should be a requirement everywhere.

#UnFuckingStoppable
They even have padding.
AND THEY WERE $!

Teh German woke up after I got home and said he felt better (surprise).  I put everything away and we snacked on leftovers from the party.  Another neighbor was having a drop-in party on Sunday, so we headed over to that for a little bit around 3.  We left since I had to study for my German exam, which I did when we got home.  After an hour or so, I finished up my studying and Teh German and I rearranged the living room.  To my surprise, Teh German had liked how we had set up the living room for the party and wanted to keep it like that.  We did some reorganizing, but now we have a new setup and I think I like it.. except for the part that we now have our own couches to watch TV on.  Not that we really snuggle while watching TV anyways, but principle.

The new living room set up.

After watching a few episodes of Mad Men, it was bedtime.

______________________________________________

Sometimes, I am amazed at how much I can pack into a weekend.  This weekend was a doozy.  In fact, when Teh German called me an idiot for planning on running a half marathon in the rain and cold on Saturday morning, I agreed with him.  It wasn't raining on the island though and I was grateful.  Essentially, it worked out in the end, as it always does.  PS.  My medal is fucking awesome and Teh Running Bestie and I have already signed up for the Kiawah Half next December.  1- It was only $41, 2- You can wait inside before the race and not freeze your ass off.  3- The course is flat.  4- DAT MEDAL THO!  5- The sweet ass shirt every year.

Oh yeah, the important part?  My bad hip didn't/doesn't hurt.  My "good" hip (the non-surgery-ied hip) was a bit achy, as was my toe, but I have been making sure to stretch, stretch, stretch and I have rolled every day since the run.  I also hit up the Chiro today for a much needed popping session.    Also, I'm planning a massage to celebrate the end of the semester after my last exam on Wednesday.  #NOTFUCKINGSORRY #TreatYoSelf

I'm moderately embarrassed that I haven't even linked up for the SUYB in months.  That's definitely reflective on the state of my life.  I've got a skeleton draft in the works, but we'll see if it happens or not.  There should be a Shit Teh German Said in the near future.  Tonight we are going out for a birthday dinner.  I have my chem exam on Wednesday and that evening we have the Yelp holiday event, which is always a blast.  Friday evening is both of our company holiday parties.. We're going to Teh German's first and if Company party is still going, then we will meet up with them.  Since Company didn't put out the deets until a week and a half ago and Timo's company put out their details in Oct, it was first come first served on the calendar.  Saturday I have a volunteer event to do wreath laying at a cemetery.  I've always wanted to do the one in Arlington, but this will have to do.

Another goal I've set for myself in the very near future is to go through our wedding pictures and select the ones we like the most for printing and for getting made into photo books.  I can do it! 

PS.  Christmas is exactly 2 weeks away! 
PPS.  I know what Teh German got me for Christmas and I may have found it when I was cleaning on Thursday.  This isn't a bad thing since I picked out what I wanted him to get me and I was sitting there when he bought it.