2014-06-06

What Living In SIN Is Also Good For

I will post this Friday night then wake up at the buttcrack of dawn to catch a flight for vacation, and I doubt I'll take my laptop. It's hella heavy, I can barely see it outside and the battery lasts about .... in the time of writing that sentence I had to find a power cord. The point is, I will probably take even longer than usual to respond to comments, etc., but I still wanted to link up because there are so many abundant thankfuls this week.

Thankful is not even a strong enough word for Lizzi, starting this amazing community of POSITIVE, encouraging, wonderful people. Even if this post remains the ONLY post I continue to ever post as a blogger, it makes the whole mostly uphill battle blogging soap opera totally worth it. Click here to join!

Vacation Thankfuls

Thankful for a washing machine and dryer IN MY HOME, which I haven't always had, to handle the laundry mountains before and especially after vacation. This SUCKS and takes up half the day when you have to haul multiple bags of laundry to a laundromat. It was damn near impossible in the apartment with the community TINY washer and dryer, shared by the whole building. Years later I still don't mind laundry because of that life. (Or loading/unloading my dishwasher.)

Thankful for babysitters watching my kids while I go on vacation without them! My Father- and Diane-in-law will take the first shift, then my awesome sister, Moe. Huzzah! Sleeping in? Why yes, thank you I will. Yes, I'll also miss them and feel mom guilt but No, not enough to stay home. We don't get many babysitters and need some time together.

I shall miss the teenager THE LEAST. As in, not at all. Just having a few days of not waking him up, arguing with him to do everything, tying to get him to give me his work McSchedule, and/or seeing his gross messes is the most thankful feeling in the world.

I also will not miss and be super thankful for NOT HAVING TO COOK FOR 5 WHOLE DAYS! Or trick, hide, strong-arm or otherwise force my shorties into eating vegetables and healthy foods. They'll be overfed and spoiled rotten, while I forage for free food, like a train-hopping hobo. It's a fun game. 
One good source: Any hotel that offers continental breakfast, they usually leave fruit out all day. If there's a conference? They usually have water and sometimes snacks out. They never even look at my lanyard with an old charity id scan in it. It even scanned years later at that same charity event! It doesn't exist in Chicago anymore, so I don't worry about tattletales. The free swag is donated anyway.

Thankful for Irish Cream. I know we all are, but specifically on vacation, it's the first thing we look for after checking into a hotel when we travel. It doesn't need to be refrigerated, it makes hotel coffee drinkable, and helps us sleep like babies at night.
It IS good refrigerated, but not necessary.

Eternally thankful for my years of living in sin, which I highly recommend to people of all ages. Yes, I will recommend this to my daughters. Should you chose to marry someone, first live with them, that's the only way to really know a person. And to make sure they know YOU.


BIG FAN
weddingbycolor.com
Not only did this provide with me great memories, it also taught me how to pack quickly and efficiently. For the years my husband and I dated, we went back and forth between my condo and his house, the original Comfytown, and I learned valuable life skills like how many days I can wear what kind of clothing in a row without washing, and/or hand-washing in the sink.

Speaking of clothes, thank blog for that miracle material most of my dressier clothes are made of, they will not wrinkle, not if I sleep in them. Nevermind why I know that. I just roll up my clothes, jam them in a bag and when I get there, presto! Ready to go. 
If you read Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millone series, you know that magical little black dress she keeps balled up in the back of her car for dress-up/undercover emergencies? THAT. I probably don't want to know what space-age polymer causes that, I'm just thankful because unlike my good friend Brian, who brings his own IRON on vacation, (true story,) I can't go for that brand of nasty jazz. Not in my America.

Beyond thankful still for Zoe's Boston books, one has a WHOLE section for cheap and free stuff! That's my kind of book.

Fun Facts from the books and/or about the area:

The pilgrims set out for the new world in this. Well this is actually the Mayflower II, a replica of the original ship where 102 passengers and a crew of 30 set out in 1620. (2 passengers died in route.)  It says when you visit they have people on board in costume. Yes, I plan on making full use of that. Hopefully they will be good sports, and not have scurvy.
from Sleepymouth.com
Thankful to be visiting in the of fresh seafood. Lobster was once so prevalent, the native Americans showed the pilgrims how to use the crustacean for fertilizer! Can't wait to taste a fresh "chicken." Hey, that's what the book called 'em.

I also can't wait to meet the wonderful Zoe Byrd of rewritten blog! Don't tell my husband that is what I am MOST excited about. Meh, he probably already knows.

38 comments:

  1. OHHHH and you get to meet ZOE! That's SO VERY COOL :D

    Hope you have an absolutely GORGEOUS holiday. Wishing you so, so, SO much rest and relaxation, my friend. I will miss you (are you taking a smartphone or are you gonna be *really* cut off?) but I'm so glad you're going.

    HOORAY.

    (and as to the living in sin bit...well...it's an issue I'm very, very torn on, but I absolutely see the point. SO much *sigh*)

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    1. I have my.phone but it's been mostly dead since we landed. Long story. I'll be sure to get a picture of our blogup for you! Wish you were here, hopefully some day!

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  2. I cant wait to meet you either! Hey make sure to see the potato sized stone that is Plymouth rock! I fell off the gangplank of the Mayflower ll on a very rainy, icy, Thanksgiving morning when an old lady with a walker went down in front of me and I managed to right her balance and lost my own balance enough to fall into the harbor... yeah, it was a great holiday... AHHHHH the memories... I was living in sin then... but I dont think its connected in any way...Mostly cuz he was still standing on the gangplank laughing at me and it would have smited us both if it was about the sin and all ... right?

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    1. I second that BAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!

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    2. And one more time for the cheap seats in the back.....BAHAHAHAHA!!!

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    3. You all realize you' re dead to me , right? BWAAHHAHAHAHHAA!!!!!

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    4. OMG you are angel to have helped that lady! I won't say his hard I laughed at the mental image of you pirate-style walking the plank, just glad you're okay now! I'll see you tomorrow at Bagelville (I looked it up!)

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    5. Zoe, did I tell you that I did not see a plank anywhere? Mayhaps they took it down for everyone's safety! :)

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  3. You have just given me the best advice in the world---pack the Baileys and use it to make the hotel coffee palatable. Genius!!! Have a great trip, my friend!

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    1. Well, I don't know if you can PACK it if you're getting on a plane, they're weird about that whole liquids thing. We just look for a liquor store when we land.

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  4. Now see, I'd agree with that 'not missing the teenager' bit, but mine has been a damn saint these last few days.

    I'm not sure if she's sick and dying and hasn't broken it to me yet....or if she's robbed a bank and waiting for the right time to stash the crap in her dumpy room...or what. But she has been a damn saint.

    Like "mopped the floor without me even hinting around to it" kind of saint.

    ENJOY your time away! Live it up, laugh too much, be too adult-y....then come on back to reality because we're all gonna miss you. =)

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    1. NOTHING makes me more suspicious than when my teenager is behaved, especially if he's polite. I'm immediately like WHAT DID YOU DO?!
      I'm back, back to reality and HARSH reality, all next week I have to get up at 4a.m. UGH.

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  5. I'm so jealous that you get to meet Zoe! Have a wonderful time! Take pictures! Don't fall off the gangway of the Mayflower (heeheeheeee)
    Who will be getting the McTeenager out of bed and to his McJob? Or do you care?
    Dragging your clothes to the laundromat is far worse than having to hand wash dishes (which I did for two years after my dishwasher kicked the bucket). Especially since other people look at you funny at the laundromat when you decide to throw the pants you're wearing into the machine.
    Looking forward to the travelogue of your trip!

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    1. She's amazing! They don't have a plank anymore, obviously rethought that with safety in mind!
      My son is with his dad for once, of course since he was there his dad said he's been getting a ride and hasn't been any trouble, that figures! He always did save his best (his worst) for ME :)
      I'm with you, my condo before this and this house was the first time IN MY WHOLE LIFE that I've had a dishwasher, and it straight up makes me feel like a princess. I would be SO SAD if it broke! I can't imagine throwing anything off my body into the machine, but the mental image is hilarious!

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  6. Enjoy your vacation! May it overflow with sleep-ins, free food, Irish Cream and FUN!

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    1. It was all that and more! The last day was rainy and an early travel day, so I just watched "Orange is the New Black" on Netflix and even took NAPS, just because I could. It was amazing, I forgot what that's like when you're not sick or miserable with a hangover. It was glorious.

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  7. Have a great time on your trip. Boston is one place I haven't been but would love to go. No reason to feel guilt for going on a trip without the kids. I'll be doing the same thing next week. I feel bad for my mom, but zero guilt about leaving the kids.
    I have some miracle material dresses, too. Fantastic invention if I don't stop to think how it's made.

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    1. hahaha I wish I spent more time in Boston, but they said this conference will be in the same place again next year, so I'll spend more time in the BIG CITY next time.
      Good for you for getting away, makes you feel sane again for a little while.

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  8. you will have fun, not just because everyone will be talking verrry slowly (and in with a funny accent)… remember, you are from the CIty (or at least City2). The natives are totally warm and friendly, once you get to know them (estimated time: 3.5 years).
    Say 'ello to zoe …and leave you 'rr(s)' at the door!

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    1. hahaha I was having a good laugh at things like "Cahl pahty of 3" every time we got called for dinner.
      Zoe is amazing. I had no idea the scope of her full story. She personifies strength.

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  9. I am loving that you get to meet Zoe! I'm totally jealous that you get a kid free vacay but I hope you enjoy every single moment! You know someone who packs their iron to go on vacation? I don't even own an iron...not even kidding....so, uh, NO!
    Have fun, sleep in, drink up, and tell Zoe I said hello :).

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    1. I only have an iron here because it was part of my husband's dowry, from the original Comfytown. It's from the 80's and it still looks pretty BRAND NEW, because I never use it!
      I did, and it was all glorious!

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  10. So cool you get to meet Zoe! I wish I could meet you, and we could take our kids to the park together in wrinkled clothing.
    Have a wonderful vacation!

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    1. Hahaha that would be so amazing! It was super big fun, and Zoe is unreal.

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  11. I don't own clothes that have to be ironed. Ever. I don't even own an iron.
    I too have not always had a washer and dryer at home, and its'such a pain - so glad I have them now!

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    1. Someone told me to buy cotton and linen because it breathes, but it also? WRINKLES. Pass. Linen sucks.

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  12. Oh forgot to say have a WONDERFUL vacation!!!

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  13. Seafood, no cooking, and plenty of alcohol? Sign me up. I would say have a good time, but that's probably a given, isn't it?

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    1. Those are a few of my fav-0-rite things. It was a good time, GREAT seafood. Scallops as big as golf balls, and the chowdah flows like water.

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  14. What fabric is this you speak of, that stays perfect and rolled?

    I lived with my husband before marrying him. Unfortunately, he was able to cover his crazy until we were legal. Annnnnd that's how we end up divorced...

    By the way, I COULD NOT figure out how to comment from logging in as a WordPress account. I hope this works...

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    1. I checked the labels and it's mostly polyester (groovy, man) and a dollop of spandex. Sounds weird, but it's flowy, and never wrinkles, so bring it on!
      I'm sorry you went through that, but now you know what to look for? THAT is why I NEVER cover up my crazy, I made SURE my current husband knew what he was in for, and that he could handle it.
      I need to do something w/comments, add Disquis or something, but I've read some horror stories about losing old comments. Plus I never have the time to figure it out.

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  15. Enjoy the vacation! I haven't been on a real one in years, but it's got to be nice to get away. And yes, when I travel for work the bar is the first place I go.

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    1. You sound like good people. That's what me, my husband, and our travel companion, his manager, always do.

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