Chuck Full of Tradition
First thing in the morning, I am here. The snow may be falling outside, but I am here. Although I am still in "vacation" mode, I am tired but I am here. Eyes are puffy, energy is low but I am here. Coffee is by my side for the first work morning in quite a while. I am a recovering caffeine addict, but today I especially need this cup. At least I am here.
I checked the 10 day forecast on weather.com and we have a chance of snow every day. Some days may just be flurries, but I love all snow big and small. Thank goodness for my carpool or else I have no idea how I would ever make it to work.
I am certainly still in long weekend/holiday mode. I need to snap out of it and will start tonight by going to bed extra early, no matter what. Mark and I have traveled out of town for the past 3 weekends in a row and all of them being 3 or 4 days weekends. It was awesome. They were all fun times, all good memories.
This past weekend we went to his hometown for New Years. It’s seem to become out tradition for the past 4 years. We went out for a Japanese Steakhouse dinner which was absolutely delicious, better than the last. I got scallops, my favorite. And I think it is now official that Mark and I like sushi. We’ve tried it so many times and each time we’re both like ehh, but this time omg we loved it. We’ve only had Philadelphia and California rolls and I know those are the most "American" kind of sushi you can get, but it’s a start. Maybe next time we’ll do eel, eek!
After the Hibachi dinner we rang in the New Year at this bar called the Palace where there was nothing but old people there, but we made the most of it. We wore party hats and I spun my noise maker and of course gave Mark a big kiss and said I love you at midnight with a champagne toast. We left there shortly after and went to the bar in town that we always go to and it cost $20 to get in, huge rip off. But it was still fun there, we just hung out with some people and drank a few beers and took a Washington Apple shot, I love those. I dressed up and got super cute and just felt great. Mark, I think, thought I was looking good too because he kept touching me and had his hands all on me. I loved it, I thought it was cute. It’s fun to flurt with your boyfriend sometimes.
The next morning, for the first time in many many New Years Day’s, I didn’t feel sick! It was like a miracle! I had a headache for a short while and then I felt fine! I even got to drink mimosa’s for breakfast–another New Year’s Day tradition that I can never participate in because I’m always sick as a dog. They were good! We went to Mark’s mom and step dad’s house for the WVU bowl game, as we always do on New Year’s Day, and they lost, but she made some good food for us and it was fun hanging out and taking it easy after a long night. I always have a good time there, I love spending time with them. His mom gave me another Christmas gift a little late and I am just so happy about it–they got me a hummingbird feeder! Oh I just love it. I was telling them last spring that I wanted one because I saw hummingbirds come by my back door and check out my spring flowers and herbs so I know we have them here. I can’t wait to hang it when it gets warm! They also got me a nutcracker for my collection from their Germany trip last summer. I’m just flattered to know that they were thinking of me while they were away and knew it issomething I would like. They’re great people.
Then to finish out the weekend I joined for the first time in the annual making of homemade sausage at Mark’s grandma’s. It’s a Pollish thing that they used to do with Mark’s great grandfather every Christmas and again at Easter. We ground the pork I think about 11 pounds of it, seasoned it, let it sit over night and the next day it was stuffed into caseings (pig intestines) it was pretty gross looking, but we got there late and missed most of the process. We took 3 bags of sausages home and made a big pot of spicy spaghetti sauce and and meatballs with it, yum! My favorite meal to cook at home.
After all the time away, I’m glad to be back at home and now I have time to rest and relax. My house looks like a train wreck, it really needs to be picked up and it’s sadly time for the holiday decorations to come down and boxed up until next year… hopefully in a new home!