MDW

Being a Jersey girl, I've learned that after Easter there is only one thing in mind: MDW.

Ah yes, Memorial Day Weekend. The unofficial kickoff of summer, the beach going months, the infiltration of shoobies, bennies and other ridiculous tourists who take up my parking spot. The people who turn my commute from a 15 minute drive to closer to a half hour, more on Fridays. The people who are going to make me wait in line for my morning iced coffee.

I'm allowed to say this now. I'm a local.

But I have to wonder -- I've only lived in Jersey, and it seems like MDW is such a big deal. Driving "down the shore," hitting the bars and clubs, bar-b-queing, drinking lots of alcohol ... yea, it's a blast and I'm always looking for a reason to have a day off of work, but is MDW such a big deal other places?

(Google searches of this are telling me that "MDW is big in NJ and Vegas..)

Regardless of where you're spending it -- I'll be on the beach, obviously, I hope everyone has a sun-filled, maragarita and sangria-full Memorial Day Weekend!

Seven Days of Rain and No Motivation

Ever have one of those days where you just can't get yourself to do anything when you're at home? When you're out, it's all good. But the second you walk through that door, the motivation is left outside? For some reason, I just could not bring myself to open up my laptop after I left the office.

Well, that some reason could have been the long week of rainy weather. The rain came in Saturday afternoon and didn't leave until Friday. Gross. April showers brings May monsoons.

BUT I'll admit that it was worth it. Saturday was, finally, the beach day I have been waiting for since I moved to the beach in February. Sunny skies, cool air made warm by the sun and no breeze. My present for surviving the week:

Winning. Finally.

I got to enjoy my sweet new ride (details to follow) and plop my ass on the beach. Which I did from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. With SPF 8. I know, I know. Far from the smartest idea, but, hell, if they world was coming to an end at 6 p.m., you bet I was gonna get that last tan.

So yeah, I'm still here. A little sunburnt. No regrets, though, because it's cold and cloudy again. I guess I'd be greedy to ask for two nice days in a row.

Post-Grad Lessons

Time goes by even faster. In college, life is broken up into four exciting parts: Fall semester, an all-new start; Winter Break, the holidays, family and friends from home; Spring Semester, another new start, formal recruitment, the excitement of snow days, summer weather; Summer, beach days, making money and the merging of friends from home and friends from college. The rest of the world, though, just has one looong rotation. The seasons come and go- and boy, do they go. Sometimes it may feel that the 9-5 slows down a bit, but then, boom! It’s Friday, then the weekend flies and other week goes by. Talking to my friends who graduated today, it’s hard to believe that just 12 short months ago, I was walking across that stage. Where on earth did the last year of my life go?

It’s hard to change when no one else is. When I look at all my friends, I see that they’re still staying out until 3 a.m. Partying in Hoboken all weekend long. While I was never big on that scene, it’s hard that I can’t be with them. I see their Facebook photos and statuses made at 3 a.m., long after my bedtime. But, I know, if I were out doing that, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

The impossible is actually possible. One year ago, we were recent graduates filled with such mixed emotions. While most were all ready to become a part of the “real world”, some were left wanting just one more year of the carefree lifestyle of an undergrad. Either way, it was happening, and we all (especially me, the Communications major, and my close friends, future teachers) repeatedly heard a pessimistic “Good luck getting a job.” But guess what? It happens! I did get that job. I’m just thankful everyday that I hate children and would be a terrible teacher. Other impossible things I conquered this year? No biggie, I only moved out and finished a half marathon. What else? I had an article published on the front page of NJ.com today.

It’s a lot easier to lose weight when you go from chugging beer and mixed drinks to sipping wine and cocktails. The results are actually amazing.

My Weekend with the Pups

I had one goal this weekend: teach the puppies to hang outside with me without digging up the entire yard while I tanned.

Added plus? Tucker joining me on my lawn chair to enjoy the sun with me. My kind of dog.

And enough sun for Tucker.

Weekend

I'm going back home to puppy-sit this weekend!!

Hopefully they're better behaved than last time ...

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Real Dog. Fake Waffle.

And that's what got me through my Tuesday.

Was Sunday Real?

Talk about a bizarre weekend. I was all ready to post this yesterday, but I still wasn't really sure that Sunday happened.

Sunday began bright and early- 6 a.m. (Saturday also started bright and early, because, apparently, a 5 mile jog the day before a half marathon is totally normal). In Long Branch by 7:15; waiting at the starting line at 8:15. Oh, crap. Guess it's really going to happen. Starting time- 8:30- rolled around, and, with the help of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run, I was off.

And, two hours, fifty-seven minutes and twenty nine seconds later, I crossed that line again- and in one piece!

For almost three hours, I ran and walked (I learned that my walking pace is fast than the jog of a lot of people, sweeet!) through Monmouth Beach, Oceanport and Long Branch. Well, I booked it through a lot of Long Branch. Still unsure why the course took us through the hood. "Dayyyum, guuuurl, you be doooin' fiiine" is pretty motivational, though.

But I survived and it was a great experience. I can officially not consider myself a fat ass anymore!

(Finish line in sight!!! And look at that form...)

And onto other events that make Sunday unbelievable ...

I came back to a clean apartment! While I was running, Boyfriend cleaned my apartment! AND made dinner! Looks like I'll be running a half marathon every weekend now.

(Then I made brownies- hell, I deserved it!- and Boyfriend got crumbs everywhere. I woke up next to crumbs today. I don't even know. Oh well, the apartment was clean at one point. My fault for making junk food.)

While fighting over what to watch on TV, (I only get a few Phillies games aired up here and, no, I don't care that it's only May!) I was just about to give up and go to bed (I hate losing a battle but 13.1 miles were starting to make me sleepy..), but I had waited about ten minutes too long and Nerdy Political Loud and Proud Republican Boyfriend came out to play.

Breaking news: President Obama to make a statement at 10:30 p.m. on a Sunday night ... something BIG is up.

Fox News was turned on faster than I have ever seen it before. Missed the "U-S-A" chants at the Phillies' game- ah, finally a proud moment in Philly- and, due to exhaustion and few delays, President Obama's speech because, well, anything after 10 p.m. is rough and a little fuzzy after 13 miles (and wine).

Needless to say, I woke up Monday morning very, very confused. I had ran 13.1 miles, my apartment was clean sans brownie crumbs, dishes from dinner and wine glasses, and Osama bin Laden was dead.