Birthday Trip Day 1 - Getting There (Tuesday) & Steve's birthday!

You guys.

He did so good.

I was legit surprised. 

He threw me off because of our means of transportation. I thought we were driving. 

After we dropped off the girls at school, we headed in the complete opposite direction I thought we'd be going.

Another weird clue: we took Steve's truck. His 2008, rust-bucket Expedition. With like 230K miles on it.

WHY.

I was like "what are we hauling - why do we need this vehicle"?

When we pulled up, my face dropped.

THE BUS STATION? You've gotta be fucking kidding me. I am NOT getting on a Greyhound bus. WTF.

Ah, ok just kidding. We're at the AmTrak Station! 

This man reserved us a private room on the train. 

Literally the easiest experience ever. No lines. No people. No security?

Here we go! 

Having a sleeper car was legit. Easily sleeps the both of us (there's a pull down bed)

Getting cozy for our 7 hour ride. Happy birthday!! 

I very much enjoyed looking out the window.

Caught up on some blog reading

Getting back into Ozark

Nap time! Steve took the top bunk.

Complimentary lunch/dinner

We could have had the attendant bring us our food, but we opted to get out and stretch our legs and have lunch out in the dining car. Again, other than the armed guard, it was just us. 

Rolling along the Hudson

It was a gorgeous day out, so the view was nice

Arriving at Penn Station

NYC ♡ When I'm not in the country, I want to be in THIS city.

Our hotel. Literally steps from Times Square! This is 44th and 7th.

Dude. He got us a SUITE. 

With a FUCKING OUTDOOR TERRACE

So, so cool. Cute little water feature and chairs and a small table.

HUGE bathroom with AMAZING shower. The shower head was so legit. 

Welcome Steve Ruple. The last time a hotel greeted us by name was on our honeymoon! 

We got to the hotel around 7pm? We walked from Penn Station - it was about a 15 minute walk. We knew we wanted GOOD food and based on our location, knew we could have just about anything we wanted delivered. So we opted for Black Iron Burgers and they were SO GOOD. 

We called it a night shortly after dinner. We showered in the amazing shower and then just watched TV, relaxed and went to bed around 10pm.

The trip so far has been incredibly enjoyable. The way here, the whole thing. I'm so excited to be here and I'm so excited to do ALL the things Steve has planned for us!

Tomorrow is our first full day in NYC. With no real plans because our trip got moved up a day, so we have a day to kind of get settled in the city. 

Working Out - 84 Weeks Into My Fitness Journey

Here we go! 84 weeks complete! 

Let's go back to the start of week 81.

I got my new stationary bike today and I'm pumped to try it out. 

This is going to be one more thing to rotate into my routine. 

It'll also help if I strain something again. It'll allow me some low impact cardio - well, depending on the class, that is. 

I've found this class and it just seems like a lady/class I'd like to follow. I like the energy and it seems as though I can handle this. And it's FREE.

I'll report back on my thoughts and opinions of this bike. 

As I mentioned in my previous fitness post, my current weight is somewhere around 116-117lbs. My plan is to start my cut in Feb (next week already!) Adding in more cardio will help with that cut, but I do not want to lose focus on my weight lifting. I want to get myself a rack so I'll be able to lift heavy using my barbell + plates. 

Packing For a Trip I Know Nothing About

You guys. 

We leave tomorrow.  today (I was planning to get this post up yesterday....but it didn't happen)

40th Birthday Trip

It's next week already! 

I'm SO excited! Nervous. Excited. Anxious. 

All the feelings.

Here's what I know. I'm NOT asking questions, this has just either come up in conversation, or my freaking mom can't keep her mouth shut lol.

• I'm supposed to bring a dress and shoes
• Also need regular shoes? But unsure of walking distance or length of time standing.
• No swim suit needed (so not warm or no pool is my assumption)
• Pajamas (duh)
• We're driving a certain distance
• I might want to go shopping there

Any guesses?

SO BUSY OMG

You guys.

I'm barely hanging on most days.

January is a hectic month at work for me. 

We are wrapping up Q4 and reporting metrics to alllllllll our clients. 

We are working to get approvals on all our 2022 contracts, finalizing details, revising them, etc. 

Scheduling meetings to review all this shit with all our clients. 

And there's only one of me and one coordinator. It's a LOT to manage.

Once we're through January though, it'll be more of a "set it and forget it" as the campaigns "grow legs" and gain momentum. Then I just need to worry about quarterly reporting after that. 

I got myself some new office swag to jumpstart the new year. 

Nothing like a fresh calendar and new pens. 

I also got myself one of those plastic things that go under my chair so it's easier to roll around.

My birthday trip is also coming up next week, so that just adds to the craziness! I need to get my ducks in a row before we leave so I won't worry.

GAH. It's already the end of January! 

First Snow!

We got our first real snow last night.

I was actually looking forward to it.

Probably because we haven't had any real accumulation yet this year.

Christmas without snow is...just not as magical.

And around these parts, if it's not snowy, it's disgusting. Grey, brown, muck. 

We are expecting 8" - 12" which is a decent amount. I mean, we've experienced WAY more (like 7ft within 3-4 days) but this amount of snow does make it tricky for those who have to commute. 

Our kids are gonna get all their gear on and play! They have the day off because of Martin Luther King Junior. 

Steve and the girls went out and stuck a yard stick in the middle of our driveway so we could see this morning how much we got.

There she is. That looks like maybe half-way? 

View from my desk

Steve also used the opportunity to take Mila skiing. He took her alone this time so they could try to hit some trails. He brought the harness with him this time and they both said it was a complete success. Mila was able to go down two different beginner trails, Infinity, which is the super easy one and then Southern Cross which is a little more challenging!

I'm so proud of my girl.

Since Ava stayed home with me (I also had a 7:30pm conference call with Australia) we decided to watch a movie.

We got comfy and watched Sleeping Beauty. Ava was rubbing my face for like 5 minutes and I was out like a light. 

Ski Club!

We got an email the other day from Mila's math teacher. He's a long-time skier and apparently manages the elementary Ski Club! 

Members who sign up get a discounted rate and it happens to be on Wednesday nights, so I immediately told Steve about it. I knew he'd be pumped about it.

Mila? 

Not so much.

We told her at my mom's birthday dinner that Steve could volunteer those days and help out! That totally changed her mind and she got very excited, knowing her dad would be there with her. 

It starts in January and they meet 4 times, I believe. Of course, the pass we'd get is good for the season. It's just that we'd be able to meet up with school friends those evenings. 

I'm excited Mila will have a chance to really get on her skis this year! 

40

My 40th birthday is coming up and I'm excited about it. TWO WEEKS. 

Excited? Anxious? A little weirded out?

40? 

How the hell did I reach 40? I still feel 25. 

If you know me IRL, you'll know that I'm not a basic bitch. I am also pretty vocal about what I want. 

I told Steve months ago that I expected him to do something special for my 40th birthday.

We missed out on our 10th-anniversary trip and it's unknown when we'll be able to take a big trip like that. 

I told him that he had to surprise me. 

I told him he had to put effort into this surprise.

I told him I didn't want to stay in town.

That's pretty much it.

He told me to take off certain days from work.

He told me I needed to bring a "nice dress."

I am trying not to ask any questions because I really do want to be surprised. 

But I'm definitely curious. 

I found out today that we're leaving the morning of Wednesday, January 26. Originally he had told me we were leaving that evening. We are coming back Sunday. I also took Monday off to you know, get back into real life. 

I know he asked my mom to come over and babysit the kids and dogs. 

I know we're driving some length of time and that we're trying to get to our destination "on time."

Other than that, I have no other clues. 

My original wish was to rent a cabin up north and rent a couple of snowmobiles and do the trails up there. He was looking into that, but then had a good point - what if we don't have enough snow? That would completely ruin that idea. If there's no snow (we don't have any now) it'll be gray, muddy, and disgusting. 

No thank you.

So he pivoted.

I don't think we're going anywhere warm. And that's totally ok. 

He told me he did a good job. He told me that when he told his work buddy (who knows me very well), even he said it was a good idea and that I'd be impressed. 

Ok. 

Let's see. 

I'm suuuuuper excited and suuuuper curious! 

I literally have NO idea. 

New Set Up

When I started my job back in September 2020, I was just happy to have a job. I was given a MacBook to use. Even though it was an older model, it worked just fine and did all the things I needed it to do. 

However, when the end of the year came around, my boss decided to gift everyone new gear! It is definitely how we get our job done and to be able to work efficiently. 

I've never been the employee to complain about technology, gear, software, etc. unless it was a real issue.

Just give me Internet and an email. I can pretty much manage the rest and make up my own processes and templates if necessary. 

BUT.

I got a brand new MacBook Air.

And a 32" Samsung curved monitor. 

Dude.

It's sick. 

I was very excited to sit down to work on Monday.

Happy New Year! 

Offline

Last week was a tough week for me. 

Our Internet went down Monday night and we didn't have stable Internet for 5 days.

We just got it fixed today (Saturday) after waiting ALL. DAMN. DAY. for them. 

Being that I work from made it a bit more difficult and inconvenient not to have Internet. 

I need fast and stable Internet for my job. 

In order to talk to team mates, clients, vendors, etc. 

Sending large files, joining video conference calls, sharing my screen. 

All very difficult if you have a shitty or weak Internet connection. 

So Tuesday I decided I'd be super chill and go to Starbucks. I had some gift card money I could use, so I wouldn't be spending any "real" money. (I never go to Starbucks. I'm much more of a Dunkin' gal.)

I went in, ordered a caramel macchiato AND a croissant.

Sat down, plugged in and got to work.

Only to realize that it's fucking loud as shit inside Starbucks. 

So loud there was no way I could take my calls from inside there. Music was bumping and it was so busy.

I packed up and headed to the library.

It was much easier to do my calls using the library's WiFi and do all my work which is all online. 

I spent my morning there then grabbed lunch for me and Steve before heading home and doing work from there. I used my hotspot in order to have access. 

Wednesday I did the same - headed to the library for the morning for my meetings and tried cramming all I could into those few hours. Went home in the afternoon and did my calls from home, using my hotspot. 

It's dicey, so I ended up calling in from my phone. That's not the more ideal because then I can't see peoples' faces. 

Regardless, first world problem and the techs came by today to get things working again.

Finally. 

Although, the quietness of my kids NOT being on their screens was nice. Their imaginations went crazy (and my house a mess) but it was kinda fun. 

Back to normal programming, folks!

Negative

I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.

One of our friends in our immediate circle tested positive for COVID.

Two days after we all hung out for NYE. 

Luckily, his symptoms were relatively mild - he did miss an entire week of work though.

Then two of his kids got it.

His wife and their other two kids are still negative.

Steve and I tested negative on Tuesday/Wednesday this week. 

Neither of us have any symptoms whatsoever.

The girls had to be tested (at home) when they got home from school Monday because it was their first day back from break. 

They were both negative. 

So we're just kind of waiting it out.

Since we're both boostered, we don't have to quarantine. 

It's been 8 days since our exposure. 

The CDC says that symptoms can appear 2 - 14 days after exposure. 

I'm taking every precaution because my 40th birthday trip is coming up and I'll be damned if we miss it because one or both of us have COVID. 

I'm holding my breath until the 14 days is up. 

Working Out - 80 Weeks Into My Fitness Journey

I missed posting when I officially completed 80 weeks! It was during that weird time between Christmas and New Year's when time doesn't count. 

Happy New Year!

Welp, we made it another year. 

See ya, 2021. 

2021 was a great year for us, personally. 

Not so much for the rest of the world.

We achieved several things this year that were both unexpected and positive. 

We bought a boat - something I didn't think we'd get for at least several more years. This purchase has allowed us to spend time together as a family doing something that brings us joy. Bonus is that our friends have boats and water toys and we can now partake in all those activities too. 

Steve got his hands on a sweet tractor because he made friends with a sweet, old lady. 

An opportunity came up recently and we also ended up purchasing a 2005 Mustang. A car he's worked on for the last 12 years and was owned by a friend's dad. (The long story short: friend's aging dad ended up in a car accident with this Mustang and it was considered totaled. They gave him a check. Steve checked it out and knew the engine + supercharger was still fine, so we bought it from the insurance company for real cheap).  

Our kids are back in school and thriving. Them getting older is both a blessing and a curse. I miss my babies, but I love hanging out with them now as little people. I mean, until they drive me absolutely insane and I want to drive them off a bridge. (KIDDING). 

My job is amazing and we're just continuing to grow, despite the uncertainty of the economy and all that. Companies still want to market their services digitally, and that industry is just continuing to take off. 

Steve's job is still pretty steady, having been there now for almost 15 years. His position is difficult, but he's definitely built his reputation of patience and being a good person to put in front of mad customers. I think they are finally seeing how smart Steve really is. I think the more he steps it up and improves their processes, even though they are slow as hell, it will eventually pay off for him. He's trying to implement things for the guys on the line in order to keep people happy. There has to be change or people will go find employment elsewhere. Everywhere is hiring. 

So I only have positive thoughts for him as he heads into 2022. 

The girls are are getting older and we are forcing them to take on more responsibilities.

I turn 40 this month and I really think this is my decade. LOL. I can't believe I'm fucking 40.

My mom is now local to me and in good health. Same with my sister. I get to see them weekly now and it's awesome. 

My dad and Steve's parents are the wild card if you will. Dad is lonely out in Vegas and 77 and lives alone. I need to keep an eye on him.

Steve's parents are doing the same...with his dad caring for his mom 24/7. So we worry about them, too. 

Let's hope that 2022 is nice and calm for everyone.

Things I'm looking forward to this year:

My 40th birthday (have I mentioned that yet?)

Mila's 10th birthday (WTF?)

Vacation in August.

And that's it, people.

I want to spend time with friends and family and have a low key year.