Missing Phoebe

On Tuesday morning, before work, I dropped Phoebe off at Chantilly Auto Body so she could get a boo boo fixed. Last month, during the horrible wind storms we had, our sweet neighbors were loading their son into his carseat & the wind took their door & pushed it into Phoebe's passenger side, causing a dent & a scratch. The whole thing was a total accident & after some conversations with the insurance company, an estimate & a second opinion later, Phoebe is finally getting fixed. I am currently driving a rental car from Enterprise & I was hoping that they would give me some kind of cool sports car to drive during the repair, but instead I got a KIA Forte...boo! Here are two photos I took with my cell phone:
Obviously, the car isn't bad at all but I was just hoping for something a little more sporty; they never give you what you want.
Today was my first drive into work with the rental & I'm totally missing Phoebe. I get so excited when I get to drive my car because it's just so cute & fun to drive. I miss my seat warmers, my bright pink (fake) flowers that sit in my vase next to my steering wheel & my tiny ass trunk. As I have said before, fellow Beetle drivers are extremely friendly & I feel like I have a connection with them because Beetle's aren't that common of a car, they're not like a Toyota Camry for instance or BMWs in Virginia. While I was waiting at a stop light this morning, a bright blue Beetle pulled up beside me. I instantly smiled & looked at the driver, waiting for that friendl smile/wave; when she saw me she gave me the weirdest look almost saying, "who is this strange woman & why is she grinning at me???" I realized what I was doing & remembered that I was in the rental & had no "connection" whatsoever with this bright blue Beetle. Thankfully the light turned green & I was able to escape my embarrassment. :o(
When I dropped Phoebe off I was told that they estimated a 5 day repair time period. I've been told by several people that waiting for paint to dry on a car can take f-o-r-e-v-e-r. I'm counting down the days until I get to pick Phoebe up. For now, I'm satisfied that I have A car to drive.

Dirt Road Anthem

This is a country music post so, again, for those of you that aren't country music fans...navigate away.
On Lexi & I's drive home to VA on Monday afternoon, I was lucky enough to catch Jason Aldean's new song Dirt Road Anthem playing on the radio. I absolutely loved it. When Dan got home that night from lessons, I played the song for him & he said he liked it but he'll have to listen to it again because he couldn't quite understand what he was saying. The reason for that is because he's doing a little talking/"rapping" during the song. This album has had its fair share of bad reviews such as, "There are Toby Keith-style odes to patriotism (like "Fly Over States," which is milder than it could have been, again thanks to Aldean's limited range) and a grouping of formulaic "I like beer and pickup trucks, just in case you were wondering" anthems like "Country Boy's World" and "My Kinda Party" that deliver pretty much what they advertise." (Allison Stewart - The Washington Post) "Meanwhile, the version of Colt Ford’s “Dirt Road Anthem” is just awful: if you’re going to include rapping in a country song, at least have rhymes with a little more heft and creativity than “I’m tired of talkin’, man, y’all ain’t listenin’/Them old dirt roads is what y’all missin’." (Juli Thanki - The 9513) The best part about music is that you get to decide what you like & it doesn't really matter what everyone else says. For you fellow country music fans out there, I am sharing the song & lyrics with you here.


Yeah, I'm chillin' on a dirt road,
Laid back swervin' like I'm George Jones.
Smoke rollin' out the window,
An ice cold beer sittin' in the console.
Memory lane up in the headlights,
It's got me reminiscing on them good times.
I'm turning off of real life, drivin' that's right,
I'm hittin' easy street on mud tires.

Back in the day Pott's farm was the place to go.
Load the truck up, hit the dirt road.
Jump the barbwire, spread the word.
Light the bonfire, then call the girls.
The king in the can and the Marlboro man.
Jack'n'Jim were a few good men.
Where ya learned how to kiss and cuss and fight too.
Better watch out for the boys in blue.

And all this small town he said, she said,
Ain't it funny how rumors spread.
Like I know something ya'll don't know,
Man that talk is gettin' old.
Ya better mind your business, man, watch your mouth,
Before I have to knock that loud mouth out.
Im tired of talkin, man, ya'll ain't listenin',
Them old dirt roads is what ya'll missin'.

[Chorus]
I'm chillin' on a dirt road.
Laid back swervin' like I'm George Jones.
Smoke rollin' out the window,
An' ice cold beer sittin' in the console.
Memory lane up in the headlights,
It's got me reminiscing on them good times.
I'm turning off of real life, drivin' that's right,
I'm hittin' easy street on mud tires.

I sit back and think about them good ole days.
The way we were raised, and our southern ways,
And we like cornbread, and biscuits,
And if it's broke round here we fix it.
I can take ya'll where ya need to go,
Down to my hood, back in them woods.

We do it different 'round here, that's right,
But we sure do it good, and we do it all night.
See, if you really wanna know how it feels,
To get off the road with trucks and four wheels,
Jump on in, and man, tell your friends,
We'll raise some hell where the blacktop ends.

[Chorus]
I'm chillin' on a dirt road.
Laid back swervin' like I'm George Jones.
Smoke rollin' out the window,
An' ice cold beer sittin' in the console.
Memory lane up in the headlights,
It's got me reminiscing on them good times.
I'm turning off of real life, driving that's right,
I'm hittin' easy street on mud tires.
Thats right.

[Chorus]
Yeah, I'm chillin' on a dirt road.
Laid back swervin' like I'm George Jones.
Smoke rollin' out the window,
And ice cold beer sittin' in the console.
Memory lane up in the headlights,
It's got me reminiscing on them good times.
I'm turning off of real life, drivin' that's right,
I'm hittin' easy street on mud tires.
Thats right.

Dan & I have been waiting patiently to buy our tickets to see him in concert at Jiffy Lube Live on Saturday, May 21st. I am so freakin' excited!

SURPRISE Visit

Last week I had coordinated with my Dad a surprise visit to PA for my Mom's birthday; I had taken Monday off from work so I wouldn't have to leave on Sunday afternoon (her actual birthday) & I'm so glad I was able to swing it.

Lexi & I left after I got home from work on Friday night, a little after 6 p.m. Dan was unable to come with us due to baseball practice, lessons/clinicals & school on Monday. We would've loved to have him with us but during baseball season, that's just not possible. During our drive I was anticipating a TON of traffic but surprisingly I didn't hit one ounce of traffic & we made great time. We got to my parents house at 10 p.m. & my Dad met us outside. I let Lexi go into the house first & I heard them yell, "Winker?!"; then I made my way into Ben's room to say, "surprise!" The look on their faces were hysterical & well worth the trip. We didn't get to bed until after midnight because we were visiting & catching up. I was surprised when I realized that I hadn't been home since Christmas & I instantly felt guilty. That's just too long. I used to plan a trip up there once a month; I need to get back on that mindset.

On Saturday my Dad's baseball team had a double header at Bethany College in WV, so we planned on heading up there for a few hours to watch them play. We had some nice, sunny weather that day but the breeze was a bit too chilly for Ben to be sitting outside for several hours. Thankfully, Bethany has a baseball field that makes it easy for you to park your car & watch the game from the parking lot. It was perfect for Ben because he was able to go but not get too cold.

On my Mom's birthday (Sunday), we made plans to go to Morgantown & eat at the Olive Garden for a late lunch/early dinner. Earlier that day she opened her gifts from us. My Dad bought her a gift bag full of new workout clothes, with a little help from me. :o) Dan & I got her a gift card & I also wanted to take her to lunch for a little girl time but unfortunately it didn't work out so we are taking a raincheck. When we got back to the house we rented the movie How Do You Know? on pay per view. Here is the movie poster to help you refresh your memory: My Mom had been wanting to see it & I'm always in the mood for a chick flick. The movie was alright, there were a lot of parts that could've been cut out because it was 2 1/2 hours long; it was entertaining nonetheless.

On Monday we hung around the house & ate lunch together before Lexi & I left to go home. We had a nice, relaxing, fun weekend & I'm so glad I was able to celebrate with her. We hope you enjoyed your day & had a Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you!

Running Playlist

This week was my first week back to the gym after my sickness & during my time on the treadmill I started thinking about the songs that I like to listen to while I’m working out. Obviously those fast tempo songs can get you pumped up & keep your legs moving but I’ve found that if I don’t mix it up, I burn out a lot quicker than when I’m listening to a mixture of songs; at least that is my experience. Anyway, I have put together a playlist of some of the songs that I have marked as “favorite” on my Slacker radio stations. If you would like to listen to the song, click the link below:

Jesse J featuring B.O.B. – Price Tag

The Steve Miller Band – Rock 'N Me

Kenny Chesney – Living in Fast Forward *I love when he says, “I’ve still got some miles to go…”

Kenny Loggins - Highway to the Dangerzone

Shinedown – Sound of Madness

Jason Aldean – Texas Was You *I love him.

Britney Spears – Till The World Ends

Brooks & Dunn – She's Not the Cheatin' Kind

Fuel – Sunburn *This song is actually my ringtone at the moment – definitely one of my favorite CDs.

Michael Jackson – The Way You Make Me Feel

Jason Aldean - Days Like These *Love

Survivor - Eye of the Tiger *Reminds me of high school basketball season.

Daughtry – What I Meant To Say

John Waite - I Ain't Missin' You

Rhianna - S&M

Alright, I'm heading to the gym...happy working out. :o)

Don Pablo's Disappointment

As you already know, Dan & I are obsessed (to put it mildly) with Don Pablo's; we go at least once a week. For a while we were ordering the same thing, chicken quesadillas & to quote my co-worker/friend, Lisa, they are "yummy deliciousness." When we went last night, I decided to change it up & order their enchilladas. I had never had theirs before but I had eaten Uncle Julio's enchilladas, many times before, & they were amazing. Dan stuck with the norm & he was smart for doing so. When my plate came out it was one of those bittersweet moments; I was so happy that our food had came because I was starving but once I took a look at the plate I heard myself say, "oh man..." It looked nothing like Uncle Julio's enchilladas & why would they, they're Don Pablo's - not Uncle Julio's. I took two bites & was finished - it was not good. Dan had even taken a bite & he didn't like it. After my two bites, my appetite was gone. When Dan & I got home I started feeling an acid attack coming on so I took one of my pills. Unfortunately, my tummy decided to take over & the next thing I know I'm in a full on acid attack, which honestly hasn't happened in a very long time. I tried all of my tricks from the past but nothing worked. Once it comes to that point it's basically time to suffer & wait it out.....so here I am at 3:30 a.m. on Saturday morning catching up on my posts & drinking my slightly warm glass of milk. :o( Thankfully this happened on a weekend & I'm not having to be up at all hours of the night & then go to work in the morning. Yes, I'm looking on the bright side of things so I can keep my sleep deprived frustration to a minimum. Don Pablo's - YOU SUCK!

Sickness

I started coming down with a sore throat last Sunday & by the time I had woken up on Monday morning for work, it was in full swing & making me completely miserable. I decided to suck it up & go to work anyway. By the time I got home that night I was exhausted & went to bed at 7:00 p.m. Unfortunately, that routine continued for 4 days & I didn't get to actually see Dan until Thursday evening. He had even commented earlier in the week, "well I guess I'll see you Saturday," which of course made me laugh. We haven't had a week like this in quite a while & I must say that I hate it. Thankfully those weeks are very few & far inbetween but when you're married to a coach/field maintenance manager/pitching lessons provider/part-time Master's student/magnet for covering school activities, etc. it sort of comes with the territory. Anyway...Wednesday was definitely my worst day out of the week; I still don't know how I made it into work that day. I did get a surprise from my co-worker/friend, Sandra Lue. She brought me in a box of Puffs Plus with Vicks & a bag of Halls strawberry cough drops. Awww, isn't she sweet? I had fallen in love with her Puffs with Vicks earlier in the week so she decided to buy me my own box, probably because I was hoarding hers. I must recommend them though...they are fabulous! I didn't even know they existed & I am never going back to regular kleenex when I have a cold. After having to blow my nose approximately 100 times a day in order to breathe normally, my nose was on FIRE, constantly burning & I also had that very attractive bright red, soreness tint to it; not to mention the wonderful nose dripping effect any time I would look down, bend down or turn my head around too fast.

I am very pleased to say that I do feel better & my sore throat is completely gone. I'm still having some sinus issues but I'm hoping they will clear out by Monday morning. I will now end this post by repeating what I have told my co-workers several times, "if I get sick one more time I'm gonna be pissed..."

Compliment

Last Saturday Dan & I went to Gold's Gym to get a workout in. I made my way to the treadmills & started my run. About 20 minutes into my workout I felt a tap on my shoulder; I pressed pause & when I turned to my right I saw a petite, blonde woman probably in her mid to late 30's. I pulled my headphones off & our conversation went like this:

Me: Yes, ma'am?
Woman: I'm sorry to interrupt your workout but I had to tell you that you have a beautiful back! (smiling).
Me: Oh, thank you (awkward smile).
Woman: It is so muscular & since you can't see it while you're running, I just thought I'd tell you.
Me: Well thank you, that is very sweet.
Woman: I'm not gay or anything - not that there is anything wrong with that, but I'm not (laughing).
Me: Of course, you're just giving me a nice compliment.
Woman: Exactly (smiling). Well have a great workout!
Me: Thanks, you too (smiling).

After I put my headphones back on & continued with my run, I felt a little odd about what just happened but then I realized that it was such a nice compliment & it made me feel good. I thought it was strange that she would interrupt someone who was not that approachable since I was wearing headphones & running, but I'm glad she did. It makes me feel good to get compliments. I always make sure that when I see someone wearing a pair of amazing shoes, a cute outfit or carrying a super cute bag, I always try to say something to them. So keep this in mind the next time you pass someone wearing, carrying or having something you like, tell them...it always makes someone feel good. :o)