After a luxuriously long weekend in Charlotte, I was overwhelmed by things I could blog about. Instead of a 14-page-long novella on the last few days, I’ve opted to instead write a post on things that make me happy. Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list, but simply a selection of what has recently left me satisfied and smiling. That’s what she said.
They may look ridiculous, but they sure are fun.
Smart Cars. If you’re ever having a bad day, just take a trip in one. Giggles and ridiculousness ensue. Therapists should recommend renting these things out by the hour as an alternative to anti-depressants. They’re just so silly; you can’t help but smile when you catch your reflection while driving one.
New bras. Or just new underwear in general. But when you’ve lost about 15 pounds (depending on the scale…), the ladies need some new support. Let’s just say it’s been a while since I haven’t been able to fill out a bra. And a trip to Vicki’s (especially on Mom’s credit card) lifts more than your spirits.
“That’s what she said” jokes. You know you’ve entered adulthood when you can make dirty jokes with your parents. ”Hurry up and put that in your mouth. I need your hands.” Also… ”His sword is bigger than yours.”
Old friends, new friends. It was great to catch up with my high school girlfriends, and awesome to realize I missed my Culpeper friends, too. I am truly blessed to have such amazing people in my life.
Smokey Oats. Funny name, great preacher. Smokey, or “the breakfast cereal,” as my brother calls him, is serving as our church’s assistant priest until they find an interim. Always energetic, his sermons are worth listening to. He made a really good point Sunday when he said, “You can’t have Easter without Good Friday.” Nobody likes the Good Fridays of our lives, but we need them to truly appreciate the Easters. You’ve got to endure the worst before things get better. And believe me, things do get better. I promise. But you have to have faith. There’s a plan, even if you have no idea what it is yet. Keep the faith.
People being excited to see you. Whether it’s seeing familiar faces in your hometown or meeting your possible future coworkers who are in desperate need of some extra help, it’s a great feeling when people are truly thrilled to see you. Who doesn’t love to feel loved and needed?
G&Ts: refreshing and delicious.
G&Ts. Also, red wine. These are my two favorite drinks. There are others, but these are the classics. Looking forward to this summer when Dad will fix Mom and me our endless supply of gin & tonics — with extra lime, of course — despite the fact that he hates them. These are most often served during our week at the beach, although Mom and Dad are thinking of going to the mountains this summer instead. Not sure how I feel about that yet.
Reimbursement checks from the DMV. Even if it’s only $16, it’s nice to get money back from the government. You just have to sell your car out of state after having just renewed the Virginia registration to get some of it back. Whatev.
Getting over my fear of CiCi’s pizza. Not that I was ever really afraid of CiCi’s, but I ate at one for the first time Monday since being left at one in the 5th grade. I was at a birthday party and a friend and I were in the game room when the party upped and left, not realizing we weren’t with them. But I’m over it. Also, I don’t think I was missing anything having not been to a CiCi’s in nearly 15 years.
Azaleas. Or simply Charlotte in the springtime. The brilliant hues of blooming azalea bushes lining the streets and neighborhoods around the Queen City are stunning. I miss that; I have yet to see the magnitude of azalea blossoms elsewhere like those found in Charlotte.
Deviled eggs. No explanation necessary.
An oldie but a goodie.
Old Spice. I don’t know what it is, but something about that scent is magnificent. Keep it simple, guys. It took me a while to figure out it was Old Spice I liked so much, but I finally got my answer when I recently ran into a guy I hung out with some last summer. Catching a whiff, I remembered how much it drove me nuts, and I had to ask him what he was wearing. I laughed when he confessed it was simply Old Spice I’d been pining for all this time.
Although I’m still a little perplexed as to why a pair of my pajama pants (that have been sitting clean and folded in a drawer for weeks) were steeped in the scent when I pulled them out last night. And it has nothing to do with that guy — or any other, for that matter. At least not as far as I’m aware. It’s possible someone is breaking into my apartment and wearing my clothes, then folding them up and putting them neatly away in my drawers. Weird. The mystery should probably bother me more than it does, but then I smell them and I don’t really care how they came to smell that way.
Clean sheets. There are few things more comforting than crisp, clean sheets, especially when washed and folded with love. Although one thing better would have been for the sheets fairy to have magically made up my bed for me. That hasn’t happened since I left home. Funny how that works.
Wegmans. A friend and I spent nearly three hours at Wegmans today. We decided we just wanted to get the heck out of Culpeper, and opted to go north. We ended up there after an overpriced lunch at a Tex-Mex grill in Gainsville, and spent the rest of the afternoon soaking up the grandeur that is Wegmans. I’d been twice before, but this was his first trip. He doubted at first, but quickly learned: never doubt Wegmans.
From obscure beers to inexpensive Spanish reds, this store has it all. Not to mention the dining area, complete with an Asian bar, a gelato/coffee shop and a seafood restaurant. After thoroughly exploring all that the grocery area had to offer, we enjoyed a glass of red wine and some crab soup before a few scoops of cool mint chocolate gelato and rich coffee. Gym tomorrow, I promise.
Ok, that’s enough for now. Happy hump day.
