I have today off for MLK day, but I’m still workin’ away. Rocking my cupcake hoodie and last night’s leftover curls. The showcase was AHMAZING! Everyone was so talented and supportive. Mae posted a few photos and I will have a post with video very soon!

But all is not lost. Just when I was starting to feel terrible, the chocolates I won in Larissa’s giveaway showed up at my door (not melted at all!). I also saw three movies - World’s Greatest Dad, Revolutionary Road and 9. Had a Chinese food date with Jenn. I gave dance lessons and had some really amazing, long, late-night conversations. Started reading In Evil Hour by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Had dinner with my parents and took Slayer for a walk in the dark.

I’m still sniffly and coughing, but I’m taking lots of vitamins and Wellness Formula and getting positive vibes. I go back to work tomorrow and am excited for fun hangouts without me being sick.

Spent all day in bed, listening to the rain and reading with Slayer cuddled up next to me.
I couldn’t have asked for a more lovely and relaxing day.

P.S. Congrats to Jessica and Jesse who got married today!

When we got home the weather was beautiful, so it was time for an epic bike ride. She lives just a couple blocks from me so we rode around town and then headed to Royal Oak for ice cream at ColdStone.

Here’s a shitty camera phone pic of Jenn filling her tires. Look at my cute green bike! I need to get a basket so I can ride around with my puppy.

Saturday I had brunch at Toast with my tattoo benefactor and got a key lime cupcake. Then came home to help my Dad fix the gate, which is huge and falling over. There was a 10 minute monsoon before we could start working. Dad decided it was put together all wrong, so now it’s in pieces in the garage. Guess the pup will have to be tied up for for a week or two until it’s rebuilt.

Sam braved the rain and we went out to dinner. Then watched Eternal Sunshine and Everything Is Illuminated. It was sweltering in my room and it took us a good 3 hours to realize I have a ceiling fan – total fail!

Sunday Mom came over and we cleaned the windows and hemmed the living room curtains. I spent a couple hours cleaning shutters with a toothbrush. It was really not fun and I still have to do the ones in the dining room. By midnight I was falling asleep and even The Misfits couldn’t wake me up, so I gave up on cleaning and passed out.

+ bake something

+ watch movies in bed

+ drag the giant keyboard out of the basement

+ refresh myself on reading music

+ learn the song i found online

+ build a snowman

+ game night with the fam

+ go see slumdog millionaire

+ go to the salvation army in search of furniture and frames

+ order copies of photos

+ start scanning for the photo wall i’ll have in my house

+ speaking of house – figure out the mortgage stuff, hopefully get the final yes, get the inspection done and prepare to close. (jan 16th!)

+ pack more

+ send a card to post secret

+ sort through my clothes

+ file the pile of bills that has been on my floor for over a year

+ also sleep in, eat a ton of food, and hang out with the besties

A bunch of these are on my 101 list! Woo!

Now I’m taking a little break to eat lunch and tell you about my weekend.

All day Friday people asked me “What are you doing this weekend?” My response was always “Nothing!” I have nothing to do and there’s no way I was going anywhere near the Dream Cruise (Google it) because I worked on stuff for that all week. It is a circus and I did my best to avoid Woodward at all costs.

What I did do was lay out by the pool, read Communion, and watch the clouds drift by. I attempted to go swimming but it was freezing, so I didn’t make it in past my knees. I finished the book last night and it was phenomenal, just like all of her books.

Last night we had a big family dinner since my sister is leaving for college at the end of the week. My brother came over with his gf and we stuffed ourselves. I refer to what we ate as a “farm dinner,” which just means there was a ton of food and lots of veggies.

My mom made pasta with goat cheese in it and my dad attempted to explain why he doesn’t like goat cheese by comparing it to eating bear meat. We were all “When did you eat bear meat?!” And my brother goes “Was it berry good?” Which definitely warranted a high five.

OK, time to focus and get back to work!

At one point I heard a crunching sound and turned around to find a deer about 25 feet away eating crab apples off the ground.

I stayed in my solitary world, only talking to B for a few minutes in the morning, until my parents came home from Canada around 7.

It was the perfect way to spend a day off.

Then came the rain, dark skies and 80 mph winds. Crazyness…the storm blew in in about 5 minutes and we headed to the basement as a tornado warning scrolled across the TV.  15 minutes later I was back up stairs talking to B online and shopping online for dresses and a new swimsuit.

Now I’m laying on my freshly washed sheets, watching The Princess Bride (one of the best movies EVER) and listening to my dad’s band rock out in the basement.

Perfect day…so thankful.