Holiday Hangover

Does anyone ever have a “holiday hangover”?  Usually my first day back to normalcy is a sluggish one.  I have a feeling today will be no different.  With good reason- yesterday was another long one. 

We started out with a casual Sunday Brunch:It was just the immediate fam and my aunt from my dad’s side of the family.  I like it this way.    Mom made her awesome breakfast casserole and we had some leftovers from the day before.  I’m not a ham kind of gal, but hello breakfast casserole.  I love you.

After brunch, I packed up and pretty much was out the door a little after noon.  I didn’t make it to my extended family’s Easter gathering on my mom’s side- we have a HUGE family on that side.  I figured it would be too hard to do a “quick” stop through.  And it can always be somewhat overwhelming because there’s just soooo many people (my mom has 12 other brother and sisters- holy crap, right?).  So I just headed towards Chicago after I left my parent’s house.Ya’ll come back now, ya hear?   

And in true St. Louis fashion, as I was going through, I heard J Kwon’s “Tipsy” AGAIN.  What is that about?!?! (Jill knows what I’m talking about!)  I thought it was funny the first time I went through, but I had no idea it was still in heavy rotation?  Or that was one hell of a coincidence!

Everybody in the club getting tipsy…. anyone?Ahhh… I’m baaaaacccccckkkkk!

The majority of the drive wasn’t too bad.  I made awesome time for most of the way.  And even was able to time it out so that I stopped at the same Panera on my way back- I think I found my default pit stop from now on.I approve of the clean bathroom vs. the gas stations I’ve been frequenting.  Clearly.  But the salmon club?  Not so much recommended… Plus it’s easier to eat the panini’s and drive. Not that I would eat and drive at the same time or anything…  And no I do not want to participate in your new promotion.  I’m aware that I bought a drink and entree and that qualifies me for a 99 cent pastry or cookie.  But I just ate my weight in chocolate Easter candy and you can ask 10 more times after the last 5 that you just did and I will still say no.  Thanks. Yes I’m sure.  No really, I’m totally aware it’s a really good deal.  NO I DON’T WANT IT, JUST BACK OFF. 

I still heart you Panera.  Promise.

I drove straight into a huge thunder and lightening storm.  I saw it coming about an hour away.  I think that may have been part of the reason I had to deal with serious traffic on the last leg of my trip.  Lame.  Nothing says welcome back home than getting completely soaked as I try to unload my car and drag my soaked luggage up three flights of stairs…

But all in all, it was a good weekend.  I like getting in quality time with the fam.  Especially at my parent’s house, since I don’t get to go back as often as I used to.  Just for kicks, here’s an oldie of me and my younger bro:Is that not the sweetest picture of all time?  We were pretty sassy looking kids.  That’s my brother- but he’s grown up a little since.  And I don’t really call him my “little” brother anymore:I like to think we’ve grown up nicely.    And if you’re wondering, we were pretending to be the weather man (the forecast was up).  And I’m not sure how I can bend my leg that way… weird.  But yeah, that’s us.  I heart my little bro- he’s so grown up and became such a gentleman! 

I also just recently told him about the blog- so if you leave a comment, feel free to say hello! 

I’m doing yoga today.  And am running at some point this week to test out the leg.  Cross your fingers!  I’ve supposedly got that 5k next weekend with Annie and it’s time I figure out if I can feasibly do it or not.

Have a good Monday everyone!

Holiday Road

Yep… as you’re reading this, I’m doing one of two things…

Stuffing my face with these:Or I’m on the road again (cue “Holiday Road” from the National Lampoon’s theme).

I have to say I didn’t overindulge ALL weekend until the above pictured candy came along.  I can’t help it.  I can’t stop at just one… or five…  All I can say is that I’m happy my mom (for some reason still unknown to me) didn’t pick up the mini milk chocolate Cadburry eggs that I love.  Maybe because she knew I’d start inhaling them as I laughed manically, all balled up in the corner rocking back and forth? 

Well that’s probably a good reason now that I think about it.

Either way, good bye Easter candy- you were fun.  I’m going to probably have a sugar hangover this afternoon because of the little incident that just happened when I tried to pick up one piece of candy to tide me over until brunch… oops. 

Now all I have to get through is the little tiff with my mom about how much of the candy I should take back with me.  I always say none.  She always pulls out a gallon-sized ziploc bag for me.  Usually we compromise.  My only issue is I’m about to embark on an 8-hour drive.  That candy will be gone by the time I get home.  I know myself too well to have it any other way.

Anyways, all in all, it’s been a good weekend.  Yesterday there was more family time.  I also saw my two friends and their new (as in two week old) baby girl.  Honestly, I’m not around babies often.  So holding this newborn was pretty fascinating to me.  So small!  And cute!  And then I got the “poop face”.  So I handed her back over as to not get stuck with that whole situation…  And my brother and I visited with some peeps after church.  And then up at the local bar.  Needless to say, I got plenty of face time in.  And I always seem to have this conversation:

“So Amy, where are you these days?”

“Chicago.”

“Chicago?!?!  Whatcha doin’ up there?”

“Living the dream.”

“Too damn big if you ask me…. Chicago.  You a Cubs fan now?”

“No, I still like the Cards.”

“Well you better be.  Chicago… all those damn buildings…”

This was pretty much the conversation I had with someone last night.  And I’m positive I had a similar conversation with that same person before.  Twice…  Whatev.  I probably asked him the same questions last night as I did before… works both ways.

Anyhoo, I’m off to shower and such before brunch.  Otherwise, the lingering smell from the bar (which would be cigarettes and deep fry) would make me no fun to sit next to…

Enjoy the end of the weekend!  I’ll have more about the weekend later, but I have got to get moving.  I always miss my fam, but I’m looking forward to being back in my own space.

And seeing what the boy next door is up to… ha.

I won’t be your friend. But I appreciate you.

I’m talking about yoga.  Yes I hated you.  But I get it.  I know now that you help me.  You help make my core stronger.  You help my flexibility.  You help me cross-train and become a better runner.  So thank you.  But I still don’t like you.

I went back and forth for a while when trying to decide if I should break out the yoga.  The leg is hanging in there.  I’m feeling pretty good about it.  Not good enough to run- I’ve become way too over-cautious to do that.  But good enough to do yoga.  So I turned on Exercise TV again and hit up the Fitness Fusion.  My only worry was the warrior series, but the leg hung in there and didn’t complain!  Progress…

Although it had been a little longer than I’d like to admit the last time I actually did it.  I’m sorry yoga, I know I started to ignore you when running came back into my life.  But you have to understand- running and I go way back.  And we’re in love.  No hard feelings… k? 

It’s not cardio- but I’ll happily take it!

So I made sure to have a good breakfast for LOTS of energy today.First of all because I’m somewhat short on sleep (I swear the full moon brings weird dreams- what is that about?!?!).  Secondly, because I have a super long road trip to Mid-MO to spend Easter weekend with the fam.  And the discussions of new construction on the news in the background of that picture will most likely screw me over in some way or another… blah. 

Before I continue, can I just say that now every time I have oats in a jar, I think about this cartoon my friend Ashlee sent me?  She seriously did crack up at my nut butter addiction…So basically, I’m stirring it in the jar going “megggggaaaaaa butttteeeeerrrrrr!!!!!!” in an unnatural sounding voice (high or low pitch, whichever works for you).  Yep.  It’s the little things, kids.  Just remember that…

Oh how I enjoy this trip.  Not.  Interstate 55 is the highway to nothingness.  At least last time I had some of my fav boys to keep me amused on the way to Mardi Gras in St. Louis.  I’m doing this one alone- and traveling about two hours longer… Ugh! 

But it’s aight.  I usually do ok on keeping myself entertained- the playlist has been updated.  There are people to call and catch up with.  I should be good!  But am always open for suggestions if you have ways of making long trips seem shorter (that are not drug induced anyways…)?  Originial plans were to leave after work and stop for the night in St. Louis.  But one of my fav girls, Laura, has to work pretty early on Friday.  So I think I’m just going to try to speed through StL, give a shout out to Busch Stadium on my way through (a little over 3 days until opening day, kids!), and be on my merry way into more highway and hills.  And not much else.  Peaceful… Almost too peaceful… ha ha

So there you have it!  Maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll have some sweet stories of random occurences that happened in the middle of Illinois.  Don’t hold your breath, but there’s always hope…  And cross your fingers that there’s no Children of the Corn incident that goes down if my car breaks down.  It’s a reoccurring concern of mine.

Have a good Thursday!    I’m excited because I found an excuse to get a Trader Joe’s trip in today over lunch- figured I’d pick up some wine and a few unique TJ items as a nice thing to bring home tonight since my fam doesn’t really get exposure to a store around them.  Not that they really care so much about that, but I still like bringing home fun things.   Can we make nut butter an Easter tradition?  Let’s try it…

Trip to Mid-MO Round 2

Here I am again at my parent’s house…  Good to be home again.  And the drive sucked…. again.  I left work a little after 5:30.  After all the snow had been coming down for a couple hours.  During rush hour.  It could have been worse.  But the first hour was pretty slow moving to get out of the city.  Once I made it to I-55, aka road through hell, the driving picked up.  The snow turned into rain.  And more rain.  And then harder rain.  And then light rain.  And then not raining, but puddles all over the road.  You get the point.

About an hour or two into it, my windshield wiper started to crap out.  The part on the actual blade thingie (my technical term for it) started to fly behind the rest of the wiper.  Basically causing the bottom two or three inches of my windshield wiper to be completely useless.  I became concerned about what would happen if the whole wiper thingie flew off.  That and it made the worst, most annoying noise ever.  Every time it went across the windshield.  I drove for six hours like that.  It was late- I doubt Jiffy Lube would have been open.  And I sure as hell don’t know how to change it myself.  Maybe it’s not that hard, but again, I really wouldn’t know.

Last year, my roommate and I drove through a straight-up blizzard.  This year wasn’t so bad.  Fatigue didn’t really set in until St. Louis.  Gas station coffee is my savior.  As sick as it may be.  I pretend that what I had was freshly roasted… at 11:30 at night when I’m the only person in the store.  I made it home all cracked out on coffee by 2:00- if I didn’t have to swing by Laura’s for the dress I forgot from staying at her house last weekend, it would have been a record time!  My mom was surprisingly chatty that early in the AM, so we talked for awhile before I looked at her and said, “I need to go to bed right now.”

After I got up this morning, I spent more time in the kitchen with my mom.  I’m pretty sure I assisted her in making her fourth batch of sugar cookies for December.   I told her about my No Sweets Week.  She looked at me with a critical eye.  Even she knows what I’m putting myself through.

I also finally cleaned out my car a little.  This is what it looked like:

My passenger seat is a trash can and shoe closet all in one.  This also does not include the few water bottles that made their way to the back.  And the coffee cups because I don’t ever drink it all, and I didn’t want them to spill if I just threw them down in my car (even though it looks like this, so would it really matter?).  I can’t believe how much quality time I’ve spent in it recently… I don’t even know why I’m paying rent to live anywhere else.  I’m realizing that might not be efficient anymore if I keep this up.

I’m off to help cook a super late brunch.  Really it’s just lunch with breakfast food- let’s not kid ourselves.  And I need to intervene because my mom is insisting on making me a stack of pancakes to go along with my already larger than life omelette if I don’t stop her.  aaaahhhhh! 

I also am going to attempt to make use of my mom’s kettleball and free weights.  Abs and arms, abs and arms….

Look at me, mom! No crutches!

I have been very busy.  And am momentarily in Mid-Missouri (You can start humming the Deliverance tune in your head- I promise I won’t get offended).  It’s my brother’s graduation and because of unfortunate planning, I will be driving back to Chicago on Sunday, to work three days, and then do it all over again for Christmas.  Fun stuff…

We had our holiday party for work on Wednesday.  It included a holiday potluck and a comedy show at Second City.  Second City was fantastic!  It was my first time going and I loved it.  I think it and the potluck were a big hit with our group (whew!- I was one of the girls that planned it). 

Second City had been celebrating it’s 50th anniversary for the last couple of weeks, but we happened to be there on the very night of their first show 50 years ago.  So after the actual planned show, all the waiters and waitresses came out with trays of cheesecake and champagne for everyone and the group did improv for another half hour.  Loved it!  (Especially the champagne)

Needless to say, this little girlie didn’t get to bed until super late.  Which was unfortunate because I had a long day ahead of me.  See below:

X-Rays at the doctor’s office in the morning.  Guess what?  NO MORE CRUTCHES!  Granted, I had been wandering off of them more than I should have.  But they were still quite the pain in my ass.  It took me two to three minutes just to get up the stairs to my apartment everyday.  That’s no way to live…  Anyways, he said I still have to take it very easy and to come back in three weeks.  But surgery and the insertion of pins can be avoided (hooray- because that was a terrifying thought) and that it seemed the possibility of a fracture was also becoming a nonthreat.  He said I’m still not allowed to run or do heavy lifting, and I inquired again about lower impact things such as the elliptical.  He looked at me like an idiot and said, “Amy, we’re trying to make it better, not worse.  Stay off of it.”  Damn… thought I’d give it a shot.

I drove all the way to Mid-MO yesterday.  Started at noon… and it was just as miserable as always.  But I was ready.  I got to break out my St. Louis Cardinal hoodie for the occasion.  It doesn’t get much wear in the Chicago area.  I could wear it, but prefer to not have to deal with all the flack that comes with it.

The difference was that this time I had no cigarettes at all to get me through.  Quitting was easier than I thought (I was hardly smoking at all at the time the way it was).  And already a few months ago.  I had quit missing smoking when I drink.  But I forgot how even just one or two cigs could break up the drive- if only for just a little while.  I was on edge.  And if you’ve never driven through Illinois, this is why. 

An hour and a half into my trip:

Three hours into my trip:

You get the point.  It’s awful.  People usually say, “but Amy- you live in the middle of Missouri, what’s so different?”  They’re called hills.  Not depressing flat farmland for miles and miles and miles.  After two hours you start to feel despair and depression setting in.  Then you start to scare yourself with ideas about how if your car broke down- and if you’d then be dragged into the endless cornfields and never seen again- straight up children of the corn style.

And if that’s not bad enough, many of the stops along the way are seriously suspect.  No, Mr Local Owner of the only gas station in the next 20 miles, the 99-cent ivy dangled on the mirror does not make your bathroom with the huge crack in the toilet and flood on the floor any more bearable.  I pray I will not get herpes when I touch the sink to wash my hands…  Is that air freshener in the corner growing mold?!?!  Oh god, get me out of here…

Once I got to St. Louis I got a little break from driving.  I was bringing my friend Laura and her family cupcakes (because they always give me a place to crash when I come through and I heart them all).  My friend Adam got wind of this and I also ended up swinging by his place with a few cupcakes.  He got lucky he happens to pretty much be on the way to Laura’s.  And he lives by himself and I doubt his cooking consists much more than of heating up pizza or opening a can of something.  He needed some home-baked goods that were made with love.   

I finally made it home a little after 8:30.  An entire day of traveling.  Blah…  Normally, I would have been freaking out because I would be needing to get a workout in at some point.  Obviously, I didn’t have that problem yesterday.  The crutches came along with the ride- my doctor insisted just in case it started to hurt.  I didn’t tell him that even if it did, I probably couldn’t use them during my brother’s graduation.  Besides, I’d look pretty silly crutching along in red pumps…