(no subject)
It's happening.
That all important shift from the half-hearted fall holiday spirit, to the overflowing, all encompassing glow that springs up in my body around christmas-time.
The die-hards have put up their lights already, and all of the downtowns have been holidified (new word, check it)
Those wonderful night drives home from friends' houses become a little more magical with holiday music and Christmas lights.
But I'm getting ahead of myself--I haven't even given Thanksgiving it's proper send-off.
So here we go, Thanksgiving With the Petersons
We planned to leave early.
Early came and went and alarms were snoozed and bags weren't packed.
An hour or two past early we got on the road.
Mom dad, a couple bikes and I in the van heading first to starbucks, then to Peoria!
Haha I freaking love my family once we get on the road together. Someone is always mad for the first 10 minutes. We didn't get out of the house fast enough, someone forgot their sunglasses, someone wants different music...it's always a little bit ridiculous when a family of last minute people try to get somewhere on time.
Someone always ends up turning the tables within the first 10 minutes though...whether it's my mom fake swerving around the roads to make my dad smile even though he doesn't want to, dana or erika being whiney cute, dad starting his taped trip journal, or me just being weird.
Anyways, the trip wasn't bad, I got a nice little nap in, and my parents were hilarious.
Got to Peoria and said hello to the family. Fabulous to see everyone, especially Kara and Meghan! Some of the fam couldn't be there, so my uncle brought huge pieces of paper for us to all write messages and draw thanksgiving related pictures on, then send them to the various missing parties. It ended up being reallllly cute. From my little cousin scribbling "What IS a turkey?" to a very detailed drawing of the Mayflower, sparking the question of whether or not the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria were part of Thanksgiving or Columbus discovering the new world...the discussion went on for way too long.
We talked, we caught up, the kids played video games, and then we ate. And did we ever eat. A holiday that centers around eating--well, you know I'm all for that!
Then possibly the most exciting event of thanksgiving occured--Moonball. A game my cousin and I invented awhile ago...basically, don't be surprised if you see it in the 2008 olympics.
Anyways, then we had dessert, and played with the little cousins, and all of that family wonderfulness. Then sadly I had to get home...work Friday morning at 8AM. So right as Grey's anatomy started, I unfortunately had to be out the door. It was taped, but I can't say that it didn't hurt to know that I was missing Meredith's primetime monologues.
But the drive home...the drive home was phenomenal
I shuffled my ipod, and for the entire 2 hours and 15 minutes I was obnoxiously uninhibitedly singing my heart out. I belted out everything from Rent to Madonna, from Nsync Christmas to Johnny Cash. I went through over 200 songs picking the best and the most sing-alongable selections. It didn't matter if it was octaves too high or dirrrrty rap, I was all about it. The only low point of the trip was finding out that my version of Aerosmith "Don't Want to Miss a Thing" cuts off in the middle of the chorus...at a particularly embarassing time to be screaming out lyrics I might add.
I got home and rescued the dog from her solitude at 26 North, and made a call to the padres saying I was home safely. My voice was beyond hoarse from all of the singing...but I wouldn't take back a second of it! It was suuuuuch a release! It should be recommended for therapeutic purposes...I might just look into starting up a clinic about this...haha. From there I decided the dog had been alone in the house for too long, so we snuggled up on the couch and watched Party Monster, an incredibly campy movie where Seth Green and Macauly Culkin tell the true story of the club kids of the 80s and 90s and the ridiculousness of it all. I can't even describe how much I enjoy this film.
It was bedtime after that, and I have to admit...I still get scared sleeping in an empty house. I turned off all the lights and ran upstairs. I'm getting better though, I didn't make a barricade in front of my door like I used to! Baby steps, baby steps.
Work Friday was obnoxious. I got a nosebleed at a table which was terribly embarassing...but I'm pretty sure I ran away before they could really notice. I was an odd mix of annoyed/bored/loving people. I dont know...pancake will do that, screw with every mood you've got! Made about 100 which wasn't bad. Came home and pretttty much crashed. The dog was being a bit obnoxious though, barkin like crazy, so I laid downstairs with her til the fam got home from Peoria around 5. Took the dog on a walk with Dana, and we shared stories of the like 12 hours we'd been away from each other haha. Good times.
Lou Malnatis with the crew shortly followed that, and due to the lighting of the trees in DTN, it was BEYOND packed. Our reservations kept on getting bumped back, but all was forgiven once we ate brushetta, pizza, and cooookie pizza! Got a calls from Ken/Ryan about Wild Thursdays--turned wild Fridays, and decided to be crazy and join them! Ran home and grabbed some clothes and basically flew to Ken's (without speeding though!! I'm being so good about that, I need to keep my license yo!) They were ready to go, so we headed right to the city to try and make the pre 10:30 free entry...didn't end up happening.
Got there and there was quiiite a line. Ken, Ryan, Jack and I were the crew for the night, and we got in and heard the oh so familiar spanish beats that usually take up the last hour of the night. For some reason, they kepppt on playing them, and we probably would have been outta there if we hadn't just spent $10. The tides turned though when we heard the bumpin bass of a "sweet dreams" remix and headed for the floor. We danced, we sweated, we rested, we danced. We met friends, danced with friends, talked with friends, and danced some more.
Haha, overall it was a blast, and though briefly and illegally...Ken and I made it up to the stage and danced our little hearts out, soberly for once! In all honesty I was probably worse off without the booze, but Ken knew how to work it haha.
Headed out shortly after that, and decided the night was officially a success. Went to Jewel for some much needed beverages and then headed back to Ken's to say goodbye. Got home and hit. the. hay.
Work the next day wasn't happening so I called in. I felt miz for some reason and Dana was beyond help haha.
Slept in, ate cupcakes, cleaned, and met Allie for lunch at Chipotle. We gossiped over burritos/burrito bowls and had an overall fabulous time. Headed back to my house to chat some more and play some more mario party...haha we are all about reminiscing these days. We got terribly annoyed with the game though and almost ended up throwing our controllers through the window. We decided a smarter decision would be to turn it off though! And we did.
Haha, the night after that involved cleaning, napping, a thanksgiving-esque dinner with the mom and dad, and a goodbye with Ryan and Ken. Wathced 2 episodes of QAF and realized despite all of the trashiness and negative stigmas attached to the show...I really really enjoy it. It's fun, it's wild, and the character development is real. Said bye to them and of course Buster and was on my way to Lex's (of course only listening to Christmas music!) Got there and sat around the fire for a bit, and then retired to the basement when it got chilly. For some reason N64 just looked too enticing for us to pass up, even though we've neverrrr played video games together. Haha, had a blast though, gotta love Mario Kart and Mario Party. Headed home and well, recapped this thing!
Now I'm going to enjoy sleeping in my bed one more night, and take a deep breath.
I'm going to need it to get through these next few weeks.
Tonsa love to everyone in the Ville I didn't see.
I'm home in a few weeks :)
That all important shift from the half-hearted fall holiday spirit, to the overflowing, all encompassing glow that springs up in my body around christmas-time.
The die-hards have put up their lights already, and all of the downtowns have been holidified (new word, check it)
Those wonderful night drives home from friends' houses become a little more magical with holiday music and Christmas lights.
But I'm getting ahead of myself--I haven't even given Thanksgiving it's proper send-off.
So here we go, Thanksgiving With the Petersons
We planned to leave early.
Early came and went and alarms were snoozed and bags weren't packed.
An hour or two past early we got on the road.
Mom dad, a couple bikes and I in the van heading first to starbucks, then to Peoria!
Haha I freaking love my family once we get on the road together. Someone is always mad for the first 10 minutes. We didn't get out of the house fast enough, someone forgot their sunglasses, someone wants different music...it's always a little bit ridiculous when a family of last minute people try to get somewhere on time.
Someone always ends up turning the tables within the first 10 minutes though...whether it's my mom fake swerving around the roads to make my dad smile even though he doesn't want to, dana or erika being whiney cute, dad starting his taped trip journal, or me just being weird.
Anyways, the trip wasn't bad, I got a nice little nap in, and my parents were hilarious.
Got to Peoria and said hello to the family. Fabulous to see everyone, especially Kara and Meghan! Some of the fam couldn't be there, so my uncle brought huge pieces of paper for us to all write messages and draw thanksgiving related pictures on, then send them to the various missing parties. It ended up being reallllly cute. From my little cousin scribbling "What IS a turkey?" to a very detailed drawing of the Mayflower, sparking the question of whether or not the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria were part of Thanksgiving or Columbus discovering the new world...the discussion went on for way too long.
We talked, we caught up, the kids played video games, and then we ate. And did we ever eat. A holiday that centers around eating--well, you know I'm all for that!
Then possibly the most exciting event of thanksgiving occured--Moonball. A game my cousin and I invented awhile ago...basically, don't be surprised if you see it in the 2008 olympics.
Anyways, then we had dessert, and played with the little cousins, and all of that family wonderfulness. Then sadly I had to get home...work Friday morning at 8AM. So right as Grey's anatomy started, I unfortunately had to be out the door. It was taped, but I can't say that it didn't hurt to know that I was missing Meredith's primetime monologues.
But the drive home...the drive home was phenomenal
I shuffled my ipod, and for the entire 2 hours and 15 minutes I was obnoxiously uninhibitedly singing my heart out. I belted out everything from Rent to Madonna, from Nsync Christmas to Johnny Cash. I went through over 200 songs picking the best and the most sing-alongable selections. It didn't matter if it was octaves too high or dirrrrty rap, I was all about it. The only low point of the trip was finding out that my version of Aerosmith "Don't Want to Miss a Thing" cuts off in the middle of the chorus...at a particularly embarassing time to be screaming out lyrics I might add.
I got home and rescued the dog from her solitude at 26 North, and made a call to the padres saying I was home safely. My voice was beyond hoarse from all of the singing...but I wouldn't take back a second of it! It was suuuuuch a release! It should be recommended for therapeutic purposes...I might just look into starting up a clinic about this...haha. From there I decided the dog had been alone in the house for too long, so we snuggled up on the couch and watched Party Monster, an incredibly campy movie where Seth Green and Macauly Culkin tell the true story of the club kids of the 80s and 90s and the ridiculousness of it all. I can't even describe how much I enjoy this film.
It was bedtime after that, and I have to admit...I still get scared sleeping in an empty house. I turned off all the lights and ran upstairs. I'm getting better though, I didn't make a barricade in front of my door like I used to! Baby steps, baby steps.
Work Friday was obnoxious. I got a nosebleed at a table which was terribly embarassing...but I'm pretty sure I ran away before they could really notice. I was an odd mix of annoyed/bored/loving people. I dont know...pancake will do that, screw with every mood you've got! Made about 100 which wasn't bad. Came home and pretttty much crashed. The dog was being a bit obnoxious though, barkin like crazy, so I laid downstairs with her til the fam got home from Peoria around 5. Took the dog on a walk with Dana, and we shared stories of the like 12 hours we'd been away from each other haha. Good times.
Lou Malnatis with the crew shortly followed that, and due to the lighting of the trees in DTN, it was BEYOND packed. Our reservations kept on getting bumped back, but all was forgiven once we ate brushetta, pizza, and cooookie pizza! Got a calls from Ken/Ryan about Wild Thursdays--turned wild Fridays, and decided to be crazy and join them! Ran home and grabbed some clothes and basically flew to Ken's (without speeding though!! I'm being so good about that, I need to keep my license yo!) They were ready to go, so we headed right to the city to try and make the pre 10:30 free entry...didn't end up happening.
Got there and there was quiiite a line. Ken, Ryan, Jack and I were the crew for the night, and we got in and heard the oh so familiar spanish beats that usually take up the last hour of the night. For some reason, they kepppt on playing them, and we probably would have been outta there if we hadn't just spent $10. The tides turned though when we heard the bumpin bass of a "sweet dreams" remix and headed for the floor. We danced, we sweated, we rested, we danced. We met friends, danced with friends, talked with friends, and danced some more.
Haha, overall it was a blast, and though briefly and illegally...Ken and I made it up to the stage and danced our little hearts out, soberly for once! In all honesty I was probably worse off without the booze, but Ken knew how to work it haha.
Headed out shortly after that, and decided the night was officially a success. Went to Jewel for some much needed beverages and then headed back to Ken's to say goodbye. Got home and hit. the. hay.
Work the next day wasn't happening so I called in. I felt miz for some reason and Dana was beyond help haha.
Slept in, ate cupcakes, cleaned, and met Allie for lunch at Chipotle. We gossiped over burritos/burrito bowls and had an overall fabulous time. Headed back to my house to chat some more and play some more mario party...haha we are all about reminiscing these days. We got terribly annoyed with the game though and almost ended up throwing our controllers through the window. We decided a smarter decision would be to turn it off though! And we did.
Haha, the night after that involved cleaning, napping, a thanksgiving-esque dinner with the mom and dad, and a goodbye with Ryan and Ken. Wathced 2 episodes of QAF and realized despite all of the trashiness and negative stigmas attached to the show...I really really enjoy it. It's fun, it's wild, and the character development is real. Said bye to them and of course Buster and was on my way to Lex's (of course only listening to Christmas music!) Got there and sat around the fire for a bit, and then retired to the basement when it got chilly. For some reason N64 just looked too enticing for us to pass up, even though we've neverrrr played video games together. Haha, had a blast though, gotta love Mario Kart and Mario Party. Headed home and well, recapped this thing!
Now I'm going to enjoy sleeping in my bed one more night, and take a deep breath.
I'm going to need it to get through these next few weeks.
Tonsa love to everyone in the Ville I didn't see.
I'm home in a few weeks :)