Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Weekend Review {07/29}

FRIDAY

Work, Chem test, more work.  I skipped Lunch Beers because I wanted to leave the office "early" to go to the gym and get in at least a minimal workout before hitting up Halls Chophouse for dinner with the Lady Gang.  A reservation had been made months ago for 4 and someone wasn't able to go, so I was able to take her place.  #WIN.

After my workout, I headed home, walked the dogs, showered, and then I drove us downtown.


I will admit that Halls is stupid expensive, but I knew that going in, so I was prepared.  We also planned to grab dessert after dinner, so I made sure to leave room for dessert.  Since I had never been there and I'd been told that Kaminsky's is OMFG SO GOOOD, I suggested there for dessert and everyone approved.  We ended up at the West Ashley location so we didn't have to deal with parking for a 2nd time downtown.

I'll be honest.  I was not impressed.  I ordered the Jimny Cricket adult milkshake and it just wasn't good to me.  I think it was more grasshopper, less chocolate mint... and I wanted chocolate mint.  My 2nd choice was the Dreamsicle.. and I chose poorly.  Oh well.  In other news, I'll be sticking with Kilwin's from here on out.  The individual who preached to me about the blessing that is Kaminsky's pretty much said it was way better than Kilwin's.  It's not.  I don't overly care about the adult part of an adult milkshake.. or the dessert part of any adult beverage.. and that is where Kaminsky's shines, I will admit that.  But I'm in it for the deliciousness and I can find something more delicious somewhere else.

That said, I didn't have the Tollhouse Pie, but I doubt I would be wowed by that either since I don't really like chocolate chip cookies.  I'd be willing to go back and try a bite of someone else's Tollhouse Pie while I enjoyed a brownie sundae though.  So I mean.. there's that.


After dessert, we headed back home.  The Husbands were enjoying Smoking Hour when we arrived.  They had also went out to dinner and did some bar crawling in North Charleston, which sounded sketchy as fuck to me.  Other than obvious intoxication (Teh German), everyone was of sound mind and body.

Eventually, it was go home time and bedtime.


SATURDAY

I got up with the dogs on Saturday knowing that Teh German was going to have a rough morning.  After the beasts were taken care of, I went back to bed...  We slept until 11am.  #NoRagrats.


When we finally got up, we had breakfast and coffee and then I did laundry and then I was bored and had nothing to do.  That is still such an unusual occasion that I cleaned out bowl on the island that gathers things and then decided to finally apply the mounting putty (aka Tacky Stuff if you knew me as a kid) to the collage wall so the frames would no longer be crooked.  I also did the rest of the frames in the house while I was at it. 

At some point, Teh German installed the mount I purchased for the Show, I was pleased.  Now I just need the opportunity to test it with Teh Running Bestie.



After putty was applied, I checked the laundry, and I really had nothing to do.  I showered.  Bored, again.

So I took a picture of the babies coming up on the succulent I "stole" from the Math and Computer Science Lounge at school.

I finally decided to lay on the couch and finish reading a book on my Kindle that I was 95% of the way through.  Teh German asked if I wanted to watch The Americans and I told him that I wanted to finish my book, but not to get too involved into anything (motovlog videos) because after I was done with the last 5% I was ready.

With the book finished, we marathoned through some Americans until it was time to head over to Teh PT House for a Cool Kids gathering.  There were blue jello shots and I planned on not being sober for long, and I achieved said goal.  There are no pics.  We ate, we talked, we drank, we took jello shots, Teh German wanted to be argumentative with me, I ignored him, then it was finally go home time.

I promptly got ready for bed and passed out before Teh German got in the bed.


SUNDAY

I woke up at 0500 with the reminder that I am not a 20-something anymore and wished for death.  My world was spinning and my head was hurting and my stomach was quite disgruntled.  I laid in bed hoping for sleep or death and neither happened, so I finally got up, used the bathroom, took 3 advil, and went back to bed.

Thankfully, when I woke up a grouchy Teh German at 0800 to feed the dogs (which I had done the day prior before the dogs woke him), I was feeling much better.  I couldn't really go back to sleep, despite my efforts, so I scrolled through social media and then finally got up.

I wanted eggs and toast for breakfast, but Teh German needed the eggs for dinner, so instead, we had to fend for ourselves.  Wanna know the best solution for a hangover?  Bison steak with truffle butter and mushroom risotto.


Before it got too hot, I opted to take the beasts for a stroll.  Pax, in a rare event, shit on the sidewalk, like the gentleman he is.  Then he spent the next 5-6 hours passed the fuck out in his bed.  He didn't even bother to get up with Teh PT Husband came over to deliver stuff, very unusual for our dogs.



We had borrowed Teh PT Fam's air fryer to test how it would make schnitzel and it actually worked out really well.  Since we borrowed their equipment, we invited them and the SC Parents to dinner.

Yay for German dinner.

Teh NY Chef did a search for "easy German desserts" and made these delicious blueberry cake type of bars.  They were super scrumptious. After dinner, it was smoking hour and Teh NY Chef and I cleaned up the mess.  I was feeling generous, so I did the dishes for Teh German since he had done most of the cooking work.  After the kitchen was cleaned up, we headed outside with the dudes and dogs for a bit of socializing until it was time for everyone to head home.


Caught these gorgeous cotton candy clouds as I was about to head upstairs.

Shortly after everyone left, I headed upstairs to get ready for bed and have some scrolling time.  Eventually, Teh German came to bed and then it was sleepy time.  And just like that, the weekend was over.

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I probably could have written this post yesterday, but it's been several days of not clear days and I just didn't have the ability to focus.  Instead, I did homework and work things and picked up Teh PT Kid from camp, had buffet dinner with Teh German, walked the dogs, watered the plants, and did the laundry. 

Today was the last day of instruction in our chemistry class.  🙌🙌🙌
Wednesday is our final lab test, our class make up test, then Friday is the final.  I'm not obviously stressed out, and I mentally feel fine (as in, I'm not going to have a stress breakdown about my grade or what's on the test/etc), but my body is obviously stressed about something, based on the mouth Herpaderp I've had going on since I got back from MD.  First it was in my chin/lip crack (that divet under your bottom lip where your chin comes out) and the blisters went away and as it was almost healed, another blister came up in the corner of my mouth, and I got a cold sore on my gum line.  So much rage.

This week is the end of the summer semester, so test, test, final, then we're headed to NC.  Saturday is my 2nd tattoo appointment with Noel and Teh German is making the trek with me on Friday evening.  We'll be staying with Teh Dad and while I'm getting inked, Teh German will be riding, rain permitting.  Sunday, weather permitting, we'll ride... and I'm trying to plan a zipline surprise for Teh German.  We've talked about going ziplining soooo many times and we've yet to do it.  I think it's time to fix that. 

Thoughts and prayers and vibes or whatever are appreciated for me making it through the rest of this week without:
-another mouth sore
-killing anyone
-failing anything.

Happy almost August, Gentle Readers.

Friday, July 26, 2019

Five on Friday #204

EINS - Random Shit


I have a confession to make...

I was well into my 20s when I realized that I would not be arrested for removing the tags off blankets and pillows,. as I am the consumer....  For real though, as I kid, I read on a blanket or pillow the part about "Under penalty of law this tag is not to be removed...." and never read the end part because I was afraid I'd get arrested, so I always just left the tags on, despite how annoying they were.


You're welcome for this useless knowledge.

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It's almost 2020 people.  We've had cell phones with cameras in them since 2002 so it's been EIGHTEEN YEARS.. and before that all our mamas and daddys had cameras and/or video cameras or you've at least been in front of a camera at some point in your life (I make some assumptions because it is 2020 and you are reading this on some type of electronic device with an internet connection)... so LOOK AT THE CAMERA LENS PEOPLE!

It makes me irrationally angry to see people looking at themselves in their phone rather than looking at the camera lens.  I often have to do more than one selfie/group shot because the first one everyone is looking all wonky eyed and then I announce, "Look at THIS spot!" and we retake the photo and no one is wonky eyed and it's great because it's a good photo.

Fun fact, after you take a selfie looking into the camera on your phone, you can then pull up said photo and stare at yourself for as long as you like.  Literally, like we used to say, "Take a picture, it lasts longer!"

________________________________________


Apps for iPhone only or Android only make me irrationally angry.  Like, I get it, they are different platforms, but again, it's 2019.  #EqualOpportunityForAllApps!

________________________________________


I ordered 3 of my textbooks for the Fall 2019 semester this week.  I have feelings about it.
1- I'm grateful for my most pain in the ass professor who had the books selected and shared with the bookstore over a month in advance.
2- I'm depressed because books for school.
3- I'm confused because the bookstore charges so much money for the same books that other places are offering for significantly cheaper.  Like, sometimes more than $50 cheaper... Uhhh why?

That leaves books for my other 2 classes that I will have to get closer to the start of the semester.  This is annoying because then the demand will be higher and books will be more expensive and potentially not available.

________________________________________


More in shit that makes me irrationally angry:
Restaurants that I would really like to try out (despite having recently come to the decision that we are going to try to lighten up on how often we go out to eat) only having business hours Monday through Friday from 0600-1400 (2pm).

So I was scrolling through the menu, anticipating the brunch plans that Teh German and I were about to have when I checked out the hours and was completely crushed.  Additionally, this place is in a super inconvenient (for us) location, which means that unless it's a week day we both have off, it's not likely we'll ever get there.  #RUDE

________________________________________


When I was at DCA waiting for my flight back to CHS, I went to the 5 Guys at my terminal and got a delicious strawberry oreo milkshake.  Since then, I've been craving said milkshake.

Fun fact: Only "participating locations" sell milkshakes.
Another fun fact: None of those "participating locations" are in the Charleston area..
SO FUCK YOU 5 GUYS.

Siiiiiiigh, I'll just go to Cookout and eat my milkshake with a spoon.
Or maybe I'll try and see if Ye Old Fashioned can make something similar that isn't too thick to drink via straw.
#MeganProblems #FirstWorldProblems

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THERE WAS A COLD FRONT THIS WEEK THAT CAME THROUGH CHARLESTON.


It took me by surprise on Wednesday, but I made sure to message the Outside Sitting Coworkers and let them know that when I arrived after class, it was outside time.  Concurrence was given.  That evening, Teh German and I agreed that we'd be riding the bikes on Thursday.


It was fucking GLORIOUS.
I'm not used to not being oppressed by the heat.
Like, I was on Bageera, in the direct sunlight, NOT sweating my non-literal balls off, AND I was SMILING because I was HAPPY.  Me being outside in July, smiling AND feeling joy is an extremely rare occurrence.  Because in addition to hanger, I also suffer from Heatrage.  If that's not a term, it is now.  I just made it up.

Being hot makes me ANGRY.  I mean like.. to an extreme.  I'm uncomfortable and my optimum conditions are NOT being met and this makes me angry.. but the hotter it is, the more uncomfortable I am, and the longer I'm uncomfortable, the angrier I get.  So when I sit outside with anyone at a time when it's over "feels like 90°F?  Those are lucky and potentially unlucky individuals.  It's a high risk situation.

And I know y'all Northerners share those "Why do I live where the air hurts my face?" memes in the winter.. but let me tell you something.. You live there because you do NOT want to live where everything becomes moist by looking outside during the summer.  You do not want to spend 6 months out of the year with wet underwear from just walking to/from your car, inevitably fighting off a yeast producing factory.

I should create a meme that says, "Why do I live where I need gills to breathe?"  Because that's what it's like when it's 98°F and 100% humidity.  When you walk outside and you literally struggle to breathe because the air is so hot and wet (and not in a sexy way, trust me and my swamp ass).  Give me that thin mountain air any day.

Also, to the Northerners who endured that heat wave last week.
Welcome to our EVERY.SINGLE.DAY during the summer.

________________________________________


On a serious note.  In the realm of mental struggles and brain things.  Maybe this will sound vague, but maybe someone else has the same problem or understands what I'm trying to say and can help me construct my thoughts better.

I suffer from "clear" and "not clear" days.  This has become more and more obvious the longer I'm in school.  It also happened before I started school, but it was less obvious then.

There are the "clear" days that I show up and I rock out everything.  Every question I answer is correct, problems aren't a morale defeating struggle, complicated topics are still understandable.

But "not clear" days are rough.  Nothing the teacher says makes any sense.  None of the topics that I learned on a "clear" day can be waded through without great difficulty or even at all.  All my answers to questions are incorrect.  Often, I can't even follow step-by-step instructions.  These days are generally back-to-back and often cause me to have an extreme spiral into depression over how stupid I am, how I should just give up doing school because I'm no good at computer science.. if you've been here long enough, you've seen the exposé-s on this.

This has become extremely obvious during my chem class when my professor has noticed my "clear"/"not clear" struggle.  I think she thought, at first, that I was just joking around when I told her that I was having a "good" (clear) day or a "bad" (not clear) day.. and this week, she finally got it.  But it was when she said to me during lab on Thursday that she could tell I was having a "clear" day that I realized, this is actually a thing.

Up to this point, I thought it was just a matter of timing and things going on and my being distracted and maybe medications and maybe sometimes the phase of the moon or mercury retrograde..  But I'm starting to think it's something more, but IDK what.

I will admit that there's something to the distraction of taking multiple classes that causes problems and how busy my life is.  It's nice to take one class at a time to be able to focus on a single topic.  But, even with being able to focus on a single topic, I'm still having "not clear" days.  Also, my medications haven't changed in over a year, so I don't think it's the medications I take (which is actually just LoLoestrin for my hot flashes, nexium for the GERD, and a handful of supplements (biotin, multi-vitamin, probiotic) causing the problems (and also I have the IUD for no babies).

________________________________________


If I hadn't been 100% clear on the fact that I hate summer since April 2011, when I started this blog.. I fucking hate summer.  It's hot, I'm disgruntled, as I get older I'm more disgruntled.  BUTTT Gentle Readers... when July and August roll around and I receive our power bill... I am validated about why I hate summer.

Our power bill was $209 this month (which is from 20 June - 20 July, or something like that, it was a 32 day period, which was weird also).  I'm not sure if it's because the fish tank or the heat or what.. but I actually made the decision to turn the AC up from 73°F to 75/76°F.  We were actually COLD in the house and we were wearing long sleeves and pants and I seized this opportunity to run the AC less.  Teh German didn't have an issue with it. 

Please also know that I'm bitching about this expense in relation to our other power bills.  I know there are people that pay WAY more based on where they live/the size of their dwelling/etc factors.  Also, in the winter I can just set the heat to 67/68°F and then pile on blankets.. I could actually turn the heat down more, but I wasn't willing to make the change last winter, although I did consider it.

BUT FOR REAL.
FUCK SUMMER.

________________________________________


Teh German and I went to our first date place, Home Team BBQ, on Thursday night to commemorate our 4th dateaversary.  I know, 🤮.  Not sorry.


Here's the real facts.  It's such a rare treat for it NOT to be "feels like 100°F+" during the summer that we were already kinda celebrating by riding the bikes to work in the AM.  I know that Teh German likes getting to spend time on his bike(s), which often means riding out to dinner.. even if it's on a school night.  I enjoyed my ride from school to work sooo much that even I wanted to spend more time with Bagheera.  Also, sometimes I like to do spontaneous things.. like celebrate our dateaversary a week early.  Also, I've been wanting to go to Home Team for a while, but it was a low key desire, so I've put it off for several months for other options, knowing that our dateaversary was coming.

We got "our" parking spot, the same spot we parked on our first date, which always makes going to Home Team feel extra special.  Going out to dinner meant that Teh German got to ride BOTH his bikes in the same day, so he was pretty pumped about the opportunity.  We took the long way home because the Bobber bike is a super rough ride, so Teh German tries to avoid I-26 at all costs.. but ya know, it looks cool.  I guess this is the man version of high heels?  IDK.

When we got home, it was fish tank time for Teh German and study time for me.

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I woke up at 0100 on Wednesday morning in a fucking RAGE about the fact that my windshield wipers didn't traffic correctly anymore.  Like, irrational rage.  AND IT WAS ONE AM. WTF?  I had to literally talk myself down from being so mad... and it's 1am.

Rage: How fucking hard is it to put something back the way you found it?!  You had a simple job to do and at least 3 hours to do it.  Take the 3 fucking hours and DO IT PROPERLY.  Not only did I have to be out of the office to get the damn thing replaced, I had to be out of the office to go back the FIRST time to get the windshield washer fluid working again... and NOW I have to be out of the office, yet again, to get this issue fixed.
Sanity: You can telework, it's not that bad.
Rage: I'm already "barely" in the office as it is.  It just doesn't look good to not be in the office.
Sanity: It's 1am, do we have to discuss this right.now?
Rage: YES WE FUCKING DO.  I'M SOOOO ANGRY ABOUT THIS, RIGHT NOW.
Sanity: Is it really the time?
Rage *blank stares at Sanity*
Sanity: Siiiigh, fine.  Tomorrow, we'll go to the place and have it fixed and then the problem(s) will be resolved and it will be fine.
Rage: I don't WANT to go back to that place.  They should come to me to fix it.
Sanity: Do you want to call Safelite right now to schedule it?
Rage: No, I'm tired and they probably aren't open.
Sanity: I'm tired too, which is why we don't need to be doing this right.now.
Rage: YES WE DO.  No, we don't.  You're right.
Sanity: We'll just deal with it tomorrow.  You're making a bigger deal out of this than anyone else.  No one really misses you in the office.  You're there as often as you can be.
Rage: THIS IS IMPORTANT!  The visibility through the windshield was affected and IT COULD BE DANGEROUS, MEGAN.  YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
Sanity: I am serious.  Seriously tired.
Rage: Fiiiiiiiiiine.  Tomorrow then.
Sanity: Tomorrow.  Now go back to sleep.
Rage: Can't sleep, blood pressure too high.
Sanity: You suck.

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In addition to new watch bands, I also ordered a case and screen protectors for my watch, which I installed last night.  Uhhh, here's the difference between when Teh German does something and when I do something, in this instance, installing a screen protector...

It will take me 2 tries.  It will only take Teh German 1 try. 
Oh well.  There were 4 screen protectors in the pack.  I used 2.  I got it done.


________________________________________


Since switching to Google Fi, when I have an incoming call, my phone rings, my watch rings/vibrates, and if I'm on the computer, the Gmail tab will also ring.  It was a bit overwhelming, but I didn't think to see if there was a remedy the first 10 times it happened.  Well, I finally fixed Gmail not to ring when I have an incoming call, and I feel like I've earned my IT Gold Star for the week.

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There's a girl in my Chem class who is just home for the summer and taking Chem at the Citadel.  We often try to tell the non-Citadel students, there are 2 or 3, about Citadel life.. but they don't really get it. 

I think it finally hit home just how different The Citadel is from other schools when 3 of us referred to another student as "The Wrestler" because none of us knew the guy's name.  She knew his name.  She called out "The Baseball Player" (whose name I actually know because he's a CS major) since she thought they were friends.  I had to clarify for her that they had the athlete bond, not a friendship.  Totally different. 

I didn't have the heart to tell her that The Wrestler just wants to gets in her pants.  I saw it the first time he actually talked to her.  Whatevs, not my business.

BTW, I do know this girl's name.. but only because it's so fucking weird.  Like, I think her parents were hiiiiiiigh.  But other than the other transit female (who has a common, but weirdly spelled name) and the other CS majors, I do not know the names of anyone in my class.  Including the vet student who was stationed with me at VX-1.  Sometimes, I'm lucky to remember the professor's name.  Sooooo, that's a thing.


ZWEI - Money Shit

This weekend we had a money discussion to better allocate money to savings/money market accounts because free money via interest, interests me highly.  Additionally, my spending has been, one might say, a bit excessive, not really, but it feels like it, which means that I need to better allocate dollars so funds are NOT where I can see them.  That seems silly, but it is what works for me.


-Principle payment on Willow.  Might be more of these in more of these in the near future because, ideally, I'd like to have her paid off before school ends, when that GI Bill money dries up.  It's bittersweet.
-Car wash subscription
-Groceries
-Watch screen protector and face protector
-Shipping for a return of the Sparkle Skirt capris
-Bojangles for Monday.. and Friday breakfast. 🤷
-Audible subscription, which I forgot to cancel.  UGH.
-Textbooks for Fall 2019 semester (which was quite alarming when I couldn't figure out what those charges were on my credit card statement)
-Walmart things.  I had a coupon code for $10 off a $50 order and I made it a Grocery order so we can just pick it up.  Money spent and money saved.  All the items were items that we actually use/needed (dishwasher tabs, sunscreen, creamer, Nexium, decent sized (larger than 1GB) USB drive), so I didn't feel bad about spending the money just to use the code.
-360° rotate/tilt stand for the Amazon Show.  I used cash back rewards to purchase it, so it cost me $0, which was the plan all along... Thanks Prime Day purchases for all dem rewards.
-Thursday sweet tea, since someone was willing to deliver it since they were already going to Chickfila.



-Received the return $$ from my Fossil smartwatch I sent back at the beginning of the month... after having to call them to ask where my money was... andddd thennn... on Wednesday, I came home to a box on the counter with a "warranty repaired" Fossil watch.  Uhhh wut?  So now I have to decide if I'm going to do the honest thing and return it back to Fossil or just try and sell it on Marketplace without a box or instructions.
-Returned the Garmin smartwatch.  That was a happy $300 back to my account, unfortunately the return hit before the rewards could hit.. but ya know, that figures.


DREI - From My Phone Shit

Former Coworker Snapped this to me because she gets me..

Thanks, Brit!
Apparently you can't use beef stew as a password.
It's not stroganoff.

When someone shares a photo of you with their newborn from 5 years ago and posts a photo for current reference and you respond with your current reference photo.  I crack me up.

There is a bag at the gym.
#GameOn
I brought my gloves with me on Wednesday and got some punches in.
It was extremely satisfying... until my torso started getting sore from going too hard.

This is still cracking me up.

The "I'm too lazy to make dinner" x2 (1x from Megan, 1x from Teh German).

I did a beef stirfry type of thing another night to make up for cereal night.

When a classmate doesn't want his entire biscuit and you help him remedy the problem.
#NoRagrats

It's like in the summer, the hamper becomes a magical reproduction place and more clothing than normal generates between washes.  Really.  I used to do a few loads of laundry on one day per week.  Now I do 1 load of laundry every other day just so the hamper doesn't overflow.  Ugh.  I hate summer.

When the trash bag just collapses on itself in the bin, I get irrationally angry and refuse to fix it.

Snuggles with Meri during Tuesday night's thunderstorm.
See also: That one time when I stupidly allowed myself to be mosquito bait and had welts on my legs and feet for the next week.

When the dry erase markers are a knock off brand and don't erase...


VIER - From the Internet Shit

Cosmo is life.
Also, Cosmo is a borzoi, which part of me still wants, despite the shedding.










FÃœNF - Things that made me happy this week

  1. 93 on my Chem test last week.  Wewwwtttt.
  2. Surviving this week.  IDK why, but Wednesday, it was a test of will to get out of Willow to go into the building for lab and class.  
  3. A motherfucking COLD FRONT IN JULY.  Filed under: Shit I never knew I needed.
  4. An early date-aversary celebration with Teh German. 
  5. Helping a coworker not waste food by eating all the watermelon.
  6. When someone else's plans falling through gets me an invitation to go to Hall's Chophouse for dinner.  BISON STEAK AND TRUFFLE BUTTTTTTTEEERRRRRRRR... YYYYASSSSS.
  7. Seeing that the succulent babies that I took from the CS/Math teacher lounge are about to make more babies!  It means that I'm thinking about transplanting some to the outside succulent box, I just don't know if they are strong enough yet....
  8. ONE more week of Chemistry.
  9. Planning an NC weekend.
  10. Solid playlists on Spotify.



Happy Friday, Gentle Readers.

Monday, July 22, 2019

Weekend Review {07/22}

FRIDAY

Friday was Chem test day and work.  I left the office a bit earlier than normal to go back to the windshield replacement place since my windshield washer fluid didn't work.  The tech said it had a "kink" in the hose, butttt the fact that my windshield wipers aren't currently trafficking the full distance of the windshield on the driver's side, creating a HUGE block in my windshield visibility would maybe suggest I had the FNG (fucking new guy) who was in a hurry to get done and didn't bother to do any quality tests to make sure all my shit worked properly.  Apparently, there is a way to make the windshield wipers traffic based on how they are rotated or clip in or something, IDK, I read about it on the internet and had someone explain it to me, but I'm not doing it myself when they fucked it up.  I mean.. come the fuck on, it's not that difficult... unless you're 1- not paying attention or 2- in a rush.

Anyways, I considered going to the gym, but talked myself out of it, of course.  I went home to more packages at the door!  My (last) Woot Boxes of Crap.  While these boxes have been fun, they are mostly a waste of money for me and even the "big" item in the box hasn't been anything that great, IMO.  We got a Fire Stick in a box a while ago and this big box had a Blink camera in it, which Teh German will set up to watch the fish tank, probably.

The most ironic things in this box of crap?
The Chemistry study guide thing and the grow "aquarium".
By far the best item?
The retractable roasting sticks.
Teh German did say the airbuds had pretty good sound quality, which surprised both of us.
Teh PT Husband received the golf tees, otherwise, the rest of it is donate/white elephant stuff.

This was the Limited Edition Box of Crap.
The Blink camera came in this box.
Other crap I kept: the reusable bag, the cell phone looking thing (it's actually a stress squeezy thing that I'll give to my laser lady), 2 squawky monkies for Pax, the hangers, and the plastic container.

Squawky monkey already lost his arm because it was dry rotted.

Then this happened with said Squawky Monkey:


If you watched the video and didn't see it.. Squawky Monkey is still on top of the GerMerican flag.  Teh German was like uhh dafuq?  But once I explained what happened, he laughed.  And now Squawky Monkey is still hanging there, making me giggle every time I traverse the stairs.

Other things that arrived in the mail:

New watch bands, so I could replace that silly putty/flesh band that came with the Galaxy Watch.
IDK whose good idea that was, but they need to not be allowed to make decisions.

New Sparkle Skirts.
I 100% did NOT need these, but they were on sale and Sparkle Skirts never go on sale... so I did it.
I did return the capris that came with this order.  They were a huge NOPE.

Teh German was a better person than me and went to the gym, so I patiently waited on him to get home by filling my time with work things and then couch time.  We agreed to go out to dinner at Boxcar Betty's, which is a mix-up for me since I don't usually do fried chicken sammiches.  But I wanted something fast, something close, and something easy.  Dun.

The face you make when it's WELL past your dinner time and your husband doesn't understand that we needed to leave 30 minutes ago and he's just farting around doing whatever he does when he refuses go at the pace of another person....
#JesusTakeTheWheel

I finally pulled the wifely, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!  It's past my food time," and Teh German finally quit fucking around and put his shoes on.  I still have no idea wtf he was doing, but I was ready to kill him.  Not so coincidentally, I was wearing my hangry caterpillar shirt.. so I mean... I warned him...

We had dinner, then we hit up the mall because Teh German had dropped his phone in the parking lot at work.  I suggested we check out the place in the mall that advertised screen repairs, so he could avoid having to make a trip downtown to the Apple store to have the screen replaced.  While we waited on the screen replacement, we picked up Dairy Queen and walked around Books-A-Million, where I talked 2 people into buying at least 2 of the Cards Against Humanity color sets.  #SorryNotSorry  Finally, once his phone was repaired, we headed home.

When we got home, we had the finances conversation that I had warned him about before we left work.  I had said it would happen that night or before the end of the weekend, and rather than let it loom over us all weekend and me ultimately loose my bravery, I just bit the bullet after we got home from dinner.  I pulled out Teh German's laptop and we both signed into our financial websites and checked the balances and decided on a game plan to get rid of these car payments.

When I first started the conversation, he was very, "Do we have to do this now???"  I insisted I just wanted to get it over with and he didn't protest anymore.  (Praise hands, yall).  We both agreed that we wanted to get the vehicles paid off by next summer since that's when the GI Bill money will no longer be coming in.  Essentially, paying off the vehicles will be GI Bill money that has been coming in, when it comes out in the wash.

We both ended up putting a huge chunk on our vehicle payments, something Teh German has been saying he's going to do since he bought the truck, but that is neither here nor there...  😒  We also agreed that after the vehicles are paid off, we'll be doubling up on the house payment.  We both acknowledge that Charleston is probably not our forever place, so to have the house more paid off than if we'd been paying the minimum payment is an ideal situation for when the time does come.

All that remains...

After our money chat, it was bedtime.


SATURDAY

Initially, I wanted to go to the gym on Saturday.  I wanted to wear a new skirt and I wanted to test out the Galaxy Watch during a workout.  It didn't happen.  Instead, I walked the dogs on a big loop, scooped poop, then weeded the fucking flower bed, then walked the beasts to Teh Brit Neighbor's house to drop off a passionflower vine, then came back home and bathed the smelly beasts, Meri first, then Pax.

After I cleaned the beasts, I cleaned myself and then reheated my coffee and made egg salad for lunch.  I made sure to take some gas-x with that, like the adult I am.  Also, life is better with an egg slicer.  I'm not really sure why I have an egg slicer, but I'm not sorry.  Also, next time, I'm only slicing 2 ways because I think the chunks were too small slicing 3 ways.  YOLO, bitches.


Teh German had been doing yard work and outside projects all morning and we didn't eat until around 2.  That said, he was in a SHIT mood when he came inside and I did the domesticated wifely duties and put food and beverage in front of Husband and still he was shitty.  I tried to keep it together and not lose my shit on him, but he kept getting an attitude with me anytime I'd try to initiate conversation and I finally had it and said to him, "I've done NOTHING to you.  In fact, the only thing you've HAD to do since you came inside is SIT THE FUCK DOWN AT THE ISLAND AND EAT YOUR FOOD.  I served everything to you.  Literally everything.  So, I am NOT YOUR PROBLEM and I do NOT deserve to be the target of your frustration."

At that, I finished cleaning up and putting everything away and went into the office to fuck around on the computer to avoid him.  A little while later, he came in and apologized for being shitty and hugged me and explained that in addition to his phone factory resetting randomly, his last backup was from mid-2018, annnnd also a weed eater attachment had fallen from the hooks and dented the rear fender of his truck.

And while that all sucks, none of that is my fault.. sooo I said, thanks and then he went back outside to do Teh German things, while I stayed inside in the AC. 

A little while later, Teh PT Husband said our smoked ribs were done and I explained that Teh German had just come inside and needed to shower, but we'd be over in a bit to fetch the ribs.  We spent the evening on the back porch, ordering pizza for dinner because Teh German suggested it.  I picked up a 6 pack of White Zombie by Catawba Brewing (woot woot for Home, Home breweries!) for Teh German to drink, if I didn't like them.  I actually put one with a Sprite and it made a pretty good radler.  Also, Teh PT Husband had a Palmetto Brewing beer that he opened and let us try and I actually liked it, so I drank that too.  It was strange for all of us.

When we got home, it was bedtime.  I stayed up reading for a while, but Teh German literally closed his eyes and was passed out.


SUNDAY

Sunday morning, Meri ensured that I was up by 0700 to feed her.  Actually, she scratched on the door, which usually means more than just feed me, so I acquiesced.  After the beasts were fed, I went back to bed and we ended up sleeping until 10. 

It was a slow start, but Pax provided some entertainment.


After breakfast, which was fridge buffet, I decided to be motivated.  I washed all the dog bed covers, after having washed the dog bed sheets and the dogs Saturday, I wanted everything to be clean.  Then I finally decided to resize the body pillow I ordered to be Megan size.

I cut it down, measuring it loosely and cutting it poorly.. Then I set about hand-stitching it closed.  An hour into the project, I broke down and started texting neighbors who may have a sewing machine.  I was so unbearably frustrated at the knots and the lack of progress that I'd made.

#Goals #ItWasAGoodIdeaAtTheTime


Teh Brit Neighbor saved me and even gave me a "Bless Your Heart" (looooooool) when I messaged her in a fit of desperation.


She was home so she told me to come over.  She had me fixed up in under 30 minutes AND she even made a cover for the pillow out of scrap fabric AND she put in a velcro closure so the pillow wouldn't slip out... Have I mentioned how awesome our neighbors are lately?

While Teh Brit Neighbor worked, Teddy pawed at me and made sure to cop no less than 3 feels.
But he's Ted, so I didn't mind.

After the body pillow situation was remedied, I went back home and picked up Teh German, who had finished putting the final touches on the storm door (trim and the automatic close thing), and we headed to Lidl for groceries.

I had this moment of weakness thanks to Teh PT Husband's peer pressuring.
Dick.

After we got home, we put away the groceries and I headed to the pool to hang out with Teh PT Wife for a while.  When I got home, we made spaghetti for dinner, with meatballs from Teh NY Chef for Teh German (they were spicy).  He was super delighted with the meatballs in his spaghetti.  After dinner, we cleaned up, then sat down to watch a few episodes of The Americans before bed....

And then.. it was bedtime and the weekend was over.  Boooo.

______________________________________________

I literally want to hug my chem teacher for tests on Friday and free weekends.  That's the difference between teachers who don't give a fuck and teachers who actually want you to succeed, IMO.  Professors who understand that their class isn't the only class and that mental breaks are important.  Can we also acknowledge the INSANE difference between last summer and this summer? 

Last summer when I literally hated everyone and everything and no amount of anxiety medication helped and I cried and cried and struggled.. and ultimately ended up failing my first ever college course and making my first ever D in a college course and I was ok with it because at least I didn't have to take Calc 2 again and the failing course didn't affect my GPA because it was at a different college.  I mean, those were my silver linings, I barely passed enough to not have to repeat the course and I could retake the failed course at the Citadel with no repercussions.  Those are some grim silver linings if you ask me.

This year, I feel like I am kinda still on summer break.  Weekends with NO school work really makes a HUGE difference in the level of despair I feel.  I also believe that the level of despair I feel is proportional to how well I do in class.  Less despair = doing better.  I wish I could take 1 class per month through the rest of my degree.  Being able to focus on a single subject every day is more reinforcing than many subjects for a short time per day.  I guess now I can see why self-paced online college is such a hit.  Nonetheless, 284 more days.

I am excited for August though, because NO SCHOOL. 
I'm 2 weeks from the end of summer school. 
That's 2 weeks from my next Hairs Did appointment.
That's 2 weeks from another tattoo session with Noel and potentially making the trip to Home, Home with Teh German so he can ride his bike while I get inked.
That's 2 more tests and the final exam for my chem class, not including lab crap.

I got this.