5 1/2 hours!

I made it home safe and sound...FINALLY!!  It took five and a half hours to get home today/tonight from work.  I know there are others still on the road, I hope they are safe.

It was pretty slow moving from the beginning and I don't think I went faster than 25 mph the entire drive.  And I might have had to pee on the road, so am glad I had a large cup with me - 'nuff said!  The snow is coming down so quickly, the roads don't look like they have even been plowed...none of them!  We easily have 6-7 inches here at the house with a few fallen tree limbs and one lucky Betty the Nova :)  Unfortunately the Husband is going to hole up at work tonight - love him and would love to wake up beside him, but there is no way his Honda will make it home.  Thought I'd share some pics... Be safe everyone! 

As I type this, the electricity has faltered three times, but hasn't gone out yet....need to go find some candles! 

And as I told the Husband today, it wouldn't be my birthday without snow :)

Pine Trees in backyard

Heard a limb break back in the woods...

Shade Tree in backyard

Happy dog :)

Japanese Maple

Crepe Myrtle

Tall Bush - well it was...

Front yard tree...honestly, not sure what type it is...

VERY LUCKY BETTY :)

The Big 3-0 Birthday Week

The birthday week has been a mixture of fabulous and horrible all at the same time. Saturday technically isn't included in this week, but that's where we will start...

While shopping in HD for interior doors, I received some sad news from a dear friend.  She is doing well and is strong; I need to send her a card.  That evening I had a fabulous time hanging with Heather and Jacqui to celebrate Heather peacing out (so sad, but more on that later).  The evening started off with sushi from Wegmans (love it! Only the cooked stuff though) - YUM!  Jacqui found a great wine bar - Church Street Cellars - in Vienna and her ex was a gem to be our DD.  It's fabulous and I have to remember to take Kathy for her birthday -- she would enjoy it a lot!  From there, we caught a ride with a gem of an ex to the Fairfax Town Center to a restaurant/bar called Ozzie's.  Great atmosphere where we proceeded to enjoy more drink - Peach Bellini is where it's at! - and meet drunk Jacqui...she was great!  We called a cab to head home, but they took too long so called Heather's (little) bro to scoop us up and as we are waiting for the bro, up pulls the cabbie so we start walking...horrible drunk us!  We hit the pjs, Jacqui falls asleep, Heather and I bust into the late night munchies of chips and salsa, proceeding to have a way-too-long discussion on making salsa from scratch :)  We snuggled into Jacqui's bed close to 4am and were done.  The next morning, we chatted about the evening's events and how I'm a bed hog (the Husband got his best night's sleep EVER while I was gone).

I got home to the Husband's surprise...  He hung the bedroom interior door...  It was on the frame, but there was a two inch gap at the top and flush on the bottom!  We did some examining and determined that the current fugly doors are pre-hung lovelies.  We had to hammer and chisel new hinge groves in the frame and the door itself to make the gap be on the bottom and keep the door knob aligned.  My hungover head did NOT enjoy this one bit!!  After the banging in the house was done (still in my head though!), the door still does not fit the frame, so we tried once more.  Unfortunately it still won't shut, meaning our house is not level or square!  You can see the frame is completely not squared to the floor when you try and shut the door.  It is hung, but won't shut which is fine for our bedroom now (but will need to remedied before guests or little ones come along).  Our next option is to shave down our new door or call in for back-ups and buy more expensive pre-hung doors! 

Fugly pre-hung doors

No more doors

Gap at top of our door...ignore the non-painted walls

The day ended with much needed grocery shopping in town.  Neither of us wanted to go with the sour mood the door had put us in, but the pantry and fridge was desolate.  The trip was fairly uneventful with a quick list (not in order but we survived that well) and aimless walking with the headache still around.  There was a bad moment when the Husband exclaimed his needing to eat more carbs since his weight was XYZ and I proceeded to cry.  Right there in the cracker aisle, tears started to flow.  This craziness was brought on by the hangover probably but also the fact I weigh more than the Husband.  UGH!  Special K is my new go to - cereal, breakfast bars, snacks and meal bars.  We shall see how this works people...

Monday I woke up late - blah! - and was cruising on 66.  The road opened up and I was able to gain speed finally yet quickly realized that I was needing to keep my steering wheel sideways to go straight!!  Thinking to myself I need to check my tire pressure/air when I get to work, I got over in the slow lane (not my typical move) and there went the tire!  Totally done...it luckily wasn't a huge blow out like I always imagined the situation being.  I pulled on the shoulder and called the Husband....hit the flashers, called the boss lady and the Husband again for the important numbers to come help me.  Up pulled a state trooper and he called in roadside assistance for me...they came about twenty minutes later and was able to change my tire, with a bit hesitation as neither of us could figure out how to get the spare out from under the truck.  Once I had the spare on, I hit Starbucks (sorry Husband but my toes were in pain!) and met a lovely lady who questioned the dog hair on the back of my black coat (hahaha!)...finally at work I was exhausted already!  Not a good start to the work week.

Today has become better with snuggling in bed with the Husband this morning.  We took my truck to get inspected (due by end of January) with our fingers crossed the spare would pass inspection.  YAY!  Yes, it did but I did need more running lights but that was easy peasy compared to a failed inspection.  She's good until 2012 :)

I'm cooking up some hamburger now and listening to our wedding playlist on Sonos...it's bringing me back to our fabulous day!  Makes me think I need to do something FABULOUS for the big 30 people!!  An innocent night out dancing...let loose and groove it on the dance floor is sounding fun to me.  Maybe it's because I've been dancing around the kitchen while cooking.

This week will get better...even though it ends with saying goodbye to my twenties...


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The Big Lebowski...

Originally written on Jan 20th

Yeah, I don't even know what this post title is (a movie, I think?) but the saying pops into my head everytime I think of the upcoming event in my life. 

I'm turning thirty the end of this month and just the thought of it freaks me out a bit.  Okay, a lot to be fully and completely honest.  I know it's just a number, I truly do believe that (my Gran is a shining example of this fact) and it's not that I'm getting older...I like to think of it as getting wiser :)  There are a few things I thought I would have accomplished by this time.  There's no need to list them here.  Rather, let's be positive about this upcoming milestone...  I've accomplished a lot in my last thirty years. 

I own a home - multiple homes actually (not our smartest decision but... be positive Susan!)
I was able to live alone and loved it!
I lived in the heart of Reston...a smaller scale version of NYC :)...
I walked to the grocery store, restaraunts and work
I have a college degree due to some determination on my part
I have a supportive and loving Husband who I can't imagine my life without
I have four fabulous fur-kids
I have a vehicle that is still running even with her grumbles in the morning (trying to be positive...)
I have a job which I enjoy very much and where I've been collectively for close to six years!
I have amazing friends who have stuck beside me and held my hand through life's events
I can sew and craft :)

All of the above are fabulous accomplishments, yet it makes me realize that above all those things...
I am alive
I can walk
I can breathe on my own
I am not in constant pain

The Big 3-0! :)


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Strength

I need to focus on the positive in my life right now.  I have so much to be thankful for!  I am a usually optimistic person and aren't shoved down often, but when I do find myself on the ground I try to think of how Heidi would handle the situation.  In the middle of her turmoil, she was smiling - always smiling - I miss her.  With her strength within me, I am always able to get up again and continue on...

A goodbye to 2010

It's halfway through the month of January and I still can't believe 2010 is over!  A few days before the new year, I sent the following email to the Husband...

I’ve been reflecting lately on this past year… We have accomplished A LOT! 

 ·        Tore down wallpaper and painted the foyer during blizzard

·         Tore down wallpaper in yellow room and partially in hall bath

·         Updated wood stove to flow into main duct work

·         Destroyed front yard!  Removing pebble garden, sidewalk, retaining wall, flower bed

·         Laid so much dirt it’s ridiculous in that open space

·         Took down master bath door

·         Built workbench in garage and basement

·         Flower beds – weeding, moving bulbs and mulching

·         Seeded and fenced in front yard

·         Tore up carpet in living room and office (Happy Anniversary!)

·         Tore down basement drywall, studs, drop ceiling, dividing wall, cork closet walls

·         Painted office

·         Scraped laminate flooring in basement - here

·         Laid boards in attic

·    New Living Room window (plus a major headache) - read about that here with more to come

·         Moved kitchen cabinets, re-hung cabinets and range hood

·         Painted kitchen and dining room - here, here and here

·         New curtains - living room, office and dining room

WOW!  In the two years we have been in this house, this past year was crazy busy with projects.  It's amazing to look at pictures of the walk-thru vs. present day to see the changes.  Granted, most are cosmetic, but I feel they are the best since it makes this house our home.  I think we are almost there (even though the list on our fridge is double-sided!) – hopefully only tackling a few more large projects (outside of full demo), will get us through 2011.  Here's the top of my list...

·         Grind and stain concrete flooring in basement

·         Hardwood floors in living room and office

·         New roof and gutters

·         Seal basement concrete block

·         Yellow room with closet

·         Hall bath

·    Fenced in yard

·         Transplant flower bulbs

·         More mulch!!

Okay, so enough with the lists which I love!  Reflecting on this past year obviously makes me think of this coming year too and all the changes that will come with it…  It excites me to find out how the year will pan out – What will we get done at the house?  What will come of our jobs?  Where will we go on vacation?  New car?  New little person?  New animal?  All of it is unknown, which admittedly scares me a bit lot, but also reminds me that there is so much to look forward to! 

I'M READY FOR THE ROLLER COASTER OF 2011!  Bring it :)

Just one of them days...

...that a girl goes through...

It has been a day, let me tell you!  I'm doing my early to work, early to home thing pretty good these days.  Was at work to day by 7:30am - usually the only one in my department - but it didn't start off too great.  One thing after another, after another and I didn't peace out until 5pm, only to hear on the radio that there were two accidents on 66 (you have got to be kidding me!)  Hit town shortly after 6pm, headed to the grocery store for coffee for the Husband (grabbed a few items in addition to that).  I decided to get gas with my Giant points since I was already out late and so I didn't have to go in the AM (will thank myself tomorrow morning).  I went to pull in and some guy in a tiny FL plates car took my spot - I couldn't even grab the spot in front of him (piss me off) - so I back it up and swung around to another pump, inside to pay and cash in my G-points, we are pumping gas.  I empty out my trash bin in the door since I'm a multi-tasker and trash flies everywhere!  My torn up deposit slip is in little pieces on the ground, I parked too close to the pump so had to straddle it each way to make it the trash can (twice).  On the way home, I decide a newly purchased (seedless) clementime will perk my spirits;  I peel that chumpy and take a big wedge: three seeds! -- second wedge: one seed! -- last try: two seeds!  (piss me off big time!!)  I throw the rest out of the window and continue home.  Lastly, I am putting wood on the fire and drop a big one on my foot - ugh!  I think I'm going to call it a night - fed the zoo, check on the constantly barking Hunter outside, going to scarf something down, take a bath and go to bed.  I hope your day has gone better...

Tomorrow is a new day; it will be better! 
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Christmas and New Years Eve 2010

I have been neglecting the world wide web lately with the holidays keeping this house going and doing some much needed relaxing. 

We had a great holiday with Jay's family in town.  The schedule for the most part followed my thoughts here.  It made for a long day but was fabulous to see almost all of both our families in one day!  We were showered with  presents - picture frames, socks (always), beautiful pearl necklace, manicure set, Boston pjs and ornaments (nice!), HD and Lowes gift cards and mula (always appreciated and needed!).  Jay and I agreed this year to not do presents since we didn't need anything and the money could be better spent on the house projects needed.  My husband is a sneaky and fabulous man!  Sidenote: we usually exchange gifts on Christmas Eve.  Once I was all snuggled in bed preparing to awake in a few hours, he comes in and asks if I want my 'holiday gift now or in the morning?'  I smile yet remind him we agree to not buy presents this year, to which his planned response was 'it's not a present, it's a holiday gift'.  I love surprises and he knows it :)  The Husband bought me yet another item to help me relax (his new goal in life hahaha!) -- a bath spa that suctions to the side of your tub and creates a current/bubbles to jazz up a still tub o' water, a bath pillow to rest my pretty head and a drain suction cover to gain an extra 4-5 inches of water in the tub.  I used it once the in-laws left and it's amazing...I love it and him for thinking of me!  He always does...


The day after Christmas we went to visit Heidi.  It was a nice ride to relax and get out of the house with the doggie doo.  We decided that next year we will start a tradition of bringing her a wreath and decorating after Turkey Day thru Christmas for some festiveness...

New Years Eve was nice... I had the day off work yet Jay had to punch the clock, so we rode in together and I dropped him off to go meet up with Daddio to see Tron (not Thor) in Manassas.  It was a good movie - neither of us had seen the original from the 80s but they did good creating a back story.  I enjoyed it more than I thought honestly, where Dad thought it was 'okay'.  After some movie and popcorn time, I hung at Kathy and Dennis' with the girls - we painted our nails and watched some music videos (hilarious!).  I scooped Jay once the girls went to bed and we headed back to K&D house.  It's my turn to enjoy some adult beverages (we take turns each year), plus we had veggies, chips/salsa and bruchetta - quite yummy.  On the way home we listened to the top 500 songs and I thought I was Mick Jagger or something jamming out, surprisingly knowing all the words to multiple songs - surprised the Husband. 

It was a great end to the year...time to look forward into 2011.  Another post to come later this evening if I can swing it. 

I'll leave you with some pics of some very happy girls on Christmas morning, among other festive items...

Thank you my love!

Gold ornament tree in dining room

Dress up shoes!

Star Wars book

 

 

 

Reading Santa's letter and his reply too!

 

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!