Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite days of the year because: 1) margaritas!;
2) my mama’s birthday (that’s her on the right, and that’s my sweet Grandma on the left, and me in the middle with Jackson during his second holiday season, 2012)!;
3) it’s the day I met Drew, eight years ago!;
4) the weather is almost always perfect, at least every place I’ve spent the day (evidence: this picture was taken last May 5)!
So, happy Cinco de Mayo to you, happy birthday to my beautiful mom, and happy anniversary to Drew! And if you need a great margarita recipe for today, here’s my original Pomegranate Margarita, which I highly recommend.
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bethany May 5, 2014, 12:03 pm
Happy Birthday, Wendy’s Mom! It’s my Mom’s birthday, too!
Dear Wendy May 5, 2014, 12:18 pm
Happy birthday, Bethany’s Mom!
Kicia May 5, 2014, 1:40 pm
Today is my birthday too!
Banana May 5, 2014, 3:04 pm
Yay, happy birthday Kicia!
Dear Wendy May 5, 2014, 2:48 pm
Happy birthday!
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 3:49 pm
Happy birthday! I decided May 5 is a GREAT birthday – because everyone is in the festive mood but it’s not the sort of “real” holiday where you are obligated to spend it with family. Hope you have a good one!
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 3:50 pm
Maybe your mom is Wendy’s mom and you’re actually sisters but didn’t know it. …. Dun dun dun!
katie May 5, 2014, 12:06 pm
haha what a cool day for you wendy! we are having a nacho bar at work today. and then everyone has been coming into our office and wishing my boss, who is mexican, a happy cinco de mayo and he just keeps telling everyone how offensive they are. its hilarious. the nacho bar is offensive too, in case you were wondering
othy May 5, 2014, 12:13 pm
I want a nacho bar at work. That sounds fantastic. (Minus the offensiveness, of course).
LlamaPajamas May 5, 2014, 12:49 pm
We have a nacho bar every cinco de mayo, too! I’m skipping them this year though because I’m now desperately trying to lose weight. But I’m going to tell people it’s because I think they’re offensive.
iwannatalktosampson May 5, 2014, 1:47 pm
Your work is better than my work.
Banana May 5, 2014, 12:12 pm
This post really made me smile! So many good things, indeed. Thanks for sharing.
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I’m on the fence about margaritas, because I’m trying to avoid drinking a lot in the immediately post-breakup time, and I also want to go to another yoga class tonight. But spring has always been my favorite season, and it’s the season that my city really sings, so I plan on soaking up everything May has to offer.
kerrycontrary May 5, 2014, 12:20 pm
Well if it’s any motivation…I had a mimosa yesterday and then worked out afterwards and it turned out just fine! And DC IS really the best in spring. I haven’t given that much thought but you’re right. Our fall is OK but not stunning and obviously winter is yuck. And summer is unbearable.
Banana May 5, 2014, 12:29 pm
I’m sorry again for missing brunch! I lounged in bed until noon, reading my book and emailing people, and I’m very glad I took that quiet time. I’d love to try again when I return from my various travels at the end of May — you game?
kerrycontrary May 5, 2014, 12:37 pm
Do NOT worry about it!! Seriously! I completely understand. I’m glad you could just chill on Sunday. I probably can’t do much until mid-late june, but I’m totally free then because andy will be gone all month. These next three weeks we’re doing wedding stuff, going to a wedding, and moving andy, and then collapsing haha. AH!
Christy May 5, 2014, 12:48 pm
For real, don’t worry. And JSYK, I’m out of town June 24 – July 9, so I couldn’t do then, but I can make time almost any other time. Except the weekend of July 12, because that’s when I’m moving.
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What book are you reading? I have an extra ARC of The Vacationers–I don’t know if you’d be interested but I need to give the book to someone, and I really enjoyed it.
Banana May 5, 2014, 1:11 pm
Thanks to both of you (I’m going to reply to you both at one go.)! Let’s take the schedule discussion to FB…my May/June are also super busy with travel, family, new job, music fests, and Book Expo America. Maybe we can find the sweet spot in there somewhere.
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And thanks again for being understanding. By the afternoon I was up and about, but the last thing I wanted to do was get up at a specific time (even if it wasn’t super early) and hop on the Metro. Hm…I’ve heard good things about The Vacationers, maybe I’ll take you up on that! Right now I’m juggling Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey (what I was reading before) and Eat Pray Love because a friend recommended it for breakup reading. The truth is, I’m actually finding more solace in Desert Solitaire! I’m enjoying Eat Pray Love but I don’t feel a lot of affinity for the author because she seems to have two big issues — her breakup, and learning to be alone — whereas I’m actually quite happy being alone, so I don’t sympathize with a lot of the parts about her needing company/reassurance all the time. But maybe I’m just being bitchy because my high horse is a place of comfort.
lets_be_honest May 5, 2014, 1:21 pm
Watch Under the Tuscan Sun!
Banana May 5, 2014, 1:24 pm
Ooh, I saw that AGES ago and really enjoyed it, but forgot most of the details. I’ll look it up again!
muchachaenlaventana May 5, 2014, 1:39 pm
I absolutely LOVE that movie. @Banana Read this: Tales of a Female Nomad–Rita Golden Gelman; seriously amazing and changed my life. Also Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. Those would be great mind-diverting, and empowering/cathartic books to pick up soon.
Dear Wendy May 5, 2014, 12:20 pm
I’m sorry for your breakup :(. And I admire your no-drinking post-breakup policy. Still…. I recommend one single margarita on Cinco de Mayo, or at least some time in May.
Banana May 5, 2014, 12:30 pm
Thanks Wendy. Okay, maybe I’ll cave and have one 🙂 I do plan on drinking when I head to the islands in a few weeks, too…just wanted to make sure I wasn’t getting plastered in the immediate aftermath, when I might be tempted to make some ill-advised calls or texts.
MaterialsGirl May 5, 2014, 12:53 pm
Block the number or lock up the cell/laptop whilst you are imbibing.
Also.. red wine and Smartfood popcorn. THAT is the key to successful emotion management
Christy May 5, 2014, 1:06 pm
Only if you think Olivia Pope has successful emotion management. And let’s be real, Scandal is a great show precisely because Olivia Pope can’t control her emotions.
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(I’m trying to strike an indignant but joking tone here. I’m not sure if it’s coming across.)
MaterialsGirl May 5, 2014, 1:09 pm
but it tastes so good!
okay okay I’m on the quinoa and fish tonight instead, but the draw of the margarita is strong.. and if I had a margarita, I would want chips and guac.. and tacos. or enchiladas
kerrycontrary May 5, 2014, 12:22 pm
Happy cinco de mayo! Probably not margaritas tonight for me, but we’ve had beautiful weather. I think the yucky winter made everyone appreciate this spring even more. I’ve been soaking up the sun 🙂
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 12:40 pm
Happy cinco de mayo! Also, can I share my big revelation this weekend? It may not be a new one but it hit me hard: I really need to go for older divorced men with kids. See, on Saturday morning, around 7 am, I left home to take Moose to the dog park. I ended up riding in the elevator with this handsome man who was, I dunno, maybe mid 40s? – with a young son (maybe 11 or 12?) – on their way to the son’s ballgame. I said something like “got a game this morning?” and the kid said “yah, and early one” and the dad just smiled. Then we went our separate ways in the garage and i said “good luck today” and the kid said “thanks.” and I thought to myself: man, I really can’t think of a more fun way to spend a Saturday morning than with an early kids’ game, followed by brunch somewhere. And then I also thought: man, this guy must be single (b/c I dunno I feel like married people with big kids like that all live in the ‘burbs or in a condo building with bigger units) and I bet he has a hard time finding women around here who actually WANT to go to an early morning kids’ game. It could be a win-win for us both! Now I just need to figure out how I can run into this man again, and then I need to look better than I did that morning, yikes. All I know is he lives on a floor somewhere between 23 and 33 (because I’m on the 23rd floor and he was already on the elevator when I got it going down….).
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 12:43 pm
It’s really hard to stalk people without their names. But it’s also hard to flirt when their kid is right there. And when you don’t know if, like, the kid has a mom who is married to the dad. Life is hard, someone just set me up already like Wendy and Drew were set up, geeez.
lets_be_honest May 5, 2014, 12:44 pm
Why don’t you just knock on all the doors between 23 and 33? 🙂
This struck me as really sweet and I hope you find him again and its a fairytale!
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 12:46 pm
That’s a great idea! And you know I could probably just focus on the two-bedroom apartments because there are only 4 of them on each floor. So that’s 4 units x 10 floors = only 40 awkward knocks. Genius, LBH. Or I should have one of you do it.
lets_be_honest May 5, 2014, 12:48 pm
Addie, I don’t even think you realize how great this love could be. Dad might be the coach! You could be the team mom! Lil Timmy needs you for bandaids when he skids his knee on home base! Dad will lovingly wink at you when you apply the bandaid.
I will knock on all the door for this.
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 12:51 pm
Love!! And then we can invite the whole team over and order pizza for dinner and watch Bad News Bears – the perfect Saturday night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Operation Find That Dad!
lets_be_honest May 5, 2014, 12:52 pm
Omg! I want to come!!!! Leave work immediately and just stay on the elevator til he arrives.
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 12:53 pm
Then I’d have to marry him so he can support me when I get fired. Perfect!!
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 1:05 pm
Oh oh oh another thing: we were on the service elevator! Which is noteworthy because it means this man likely lives on the same side of the building as I do; so my “awkward knocks” can be cut in half!
*
See, the 2-bedroom units are on the corners of each floor, and the service elevator is on one side of the floor (near me) and the two regular elevators are on the far end. That this man was in the service elevator means he must have a unit on the same side of the floor as me. It’s not as if he was lugging shit and needed to take the service elevator. Plus all elevators go to the basement where the garage is, so it’s not as if only the service elevator goes to the garage. In short, he obviously took this elevator because it was convenient, the same reason I did, because we live on that side of the floor! Otherwise, it’s easier to just take the regular elevators – there are two of them and they’re faster, but you gotta walk ALL THE WAY DOWN THE HALL for that. Clearly, therefore, he’s in an ’01 or ’02 unit like me. … So that means 2 units x 10 floors = 20 awkward knocks! Gosh, we’re that much closer to true lurve all because I’m a genius at stalking!
LlamaPajamas May 5, 2014, 1:07 pm
Excellent detective work, AP. I’m already overly emotionally invested in this working out for you.
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 1:08 pm
Oh me too. I’ve already emailed out save the dates. (<— Kidding, geez; I've only drafted the save the dates. ….)
Wendy's Sister May 5, 2014, 4:19 pm
I love you, Addie Pray.
Banana May 5, 2014, 12:50 pm
IT’S JUST LIKE ENCHANTED! You should go for it.
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 12:52 pm
I’d love to go for it! … But how/where do I go for it? I mean, other than taking Moose out again next Saturday at the same time and this time wearing, like, lipstick, and, like not sweatpants and my raggedly tee.
Banana May 5, 2014, 1:04 pm
My honest-to-God advice? I wouldn’t say put on lipstick and a ball gown every time you take Moose out, but maybe, um, just put yourself in a state where YOU would feel confident if you happened to run into someone interesting. That can mean whatever it means to you, to feel comfortable and confident: is it putting on real pants? makeup? brushing your hair? None of the above? Whatever works for you. Then the next time you run into him — or encounter someone else interesting, and you’re not both rushing off to something, exchange a little more small talk. Ask him about himself or what he’s up to. Tell him you hope his son’s game went well. See where it takes you. If you live in the same building, maybe you’ll run into each other again. And if you don’t, maybe you’ll feel that little spark with another person you bump into one day while walking Moose. My best advice is just do what you need to do to make yourself feel comfortable and confident when that happens. Whenever you step out of your condo, do it in whatever manner makes you feel fresh, free, and open to possibility.
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 1:07 pm
I feel most comfortable and confidant at home alone without pants and with a bottle of wine.
LlamaPajamas May 5, 2014, 1:15 pm
OK, Ramona.
Banana May 5, 2014, 1:15 pm
Hm. Yeah, I feel you.
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Well, then, look at it this way: what’s so wrong about striking up that conversation while you’re in sweatpants and a ratty tee? I bet you’re freaking adorable in sweatpants and a ratty tee. If that’s who you are, and you’re comfy that way, then go for it.
honeybeenicki May 5, 2014, 1:11 pm
Was the kid wearing some kind of logo or something on his baseball uniform? You could figure out where he plays and stalk that area and then just “run into” the dad and strike up a
“don’ you live in my building?” conversation. And check for a wedding ring.
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On second thought… could be creepy to stalk areas where kids congregate. In some areas there’s laws about that kind of behavior.
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 1:14 pm
Haha, yes, I’ll live the kid out of my efforts to run into the dad again. The kid was wearing a uniform with a logo but I don’t remember it. I was busy checking out the dad.
honeybeenicki May 5, 2014, 12:52 pm
Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone! Today is also National Ferret Day, National Chocolate Custard Day and International Midwives Day 🙂 (among other days). I’m always full of useless days because I maintain a board at work of strange/unique holidays.
othy May 5, 2014, 12:58 pm
The weather her really has been perfect. I spent 95% of the weekend outdoors. And now I have some crazy tan lines. Perhaps I will spent this evening drinking margaritas on my back porch.
rachel May 5, 2014, 1:26 pm
Happy cinco de mayo!! I really want a margarita today, but money is tight this month and if I get a margarita I have a feeling tacos will follow, and it’ll turn into a whole thing. We’ll see how I feel after I revisit the idea after a day’s work 😉
iwannatalktosampson May 5, 2014, 1:39 pm
Ugh I’ve been trying to curb my week day drinking lately but fuck I need a monday margarita. It’s really just convenient that there’s a holiday that makes my drinking more acceptable.
MaterialsGirl May 5, 2014, 1:50 pm
I hear ya.. I know they’re not “real,” but i’m thinking i might have to get the skinny girl mini margaritas for portion control..
iwannatalktosampson May 5, 2014, 1:55 pm
Skinny margaritas are the best. Really if I could drink tequila, soda water, and lime. Margarita mix from the store/most restaurants is for the birds. Why does your Monday suck?
MaterialsGirl May 5, 2014, 3:02 pm
it’s not that Monday sucks in particular, it’s just the way it seems to be now in general.
lets_be_honest May 5, 2014, 3:08 pm
Aww, that sucks. What’s going on? Maybe DW can help!
MaterialsGirl May 5, 2014, 3:12 pm
deleted thread, my friends.. deleted thread.
but there is a lot of therapy going on in the meantime
lets_be_honest May 5, 2014, 3:13 pm
🙁 Hope things start looking up for you!
MaterialsGirl May 5, 2014, 3:18 pm
thanks guys.. lets just say i should have listened then before anything worse happened
http://dearwendy.com/my-boyfriend-wants-to-marry-me-but-hes-a-depressive-alcoholic/
lets_be_honest May 5, 2014, 3:26 pm
I’m sure all of us can say we should’ve listened to advice before shit really hit the fan. So you’re not alone there at least. Good luck with everything, mg. I can’t imagine its an easy time for you right now. Hopefully things will start to turn around soon for the better.
No Pants May 5, 2014, 3:52 pm
Sending you tons of support.
Banana May 5, 2014, 4:09 pm
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear you’re grappling with all of this. My best wishes and thoughts are heading your way. We’ll be here to root you on through tough times.
iwannatalktosampson May 5, 2014, 4:12 pm
MG I’m so sorry to hear that 🙁 I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I hope you have friends and family that you can reach out too. Without you providing anymore details let me just say that leaving an angry drunk was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.
Portia May 5, 2014, 2:07 pm
Ooo I forgot about Cinco de Mayo! I found a recipe for a quinoa enchilada bake thing this weekend and was like, I’ll make that sometime this week… Guess this is the universe telling me that night is tonight, Wendy you’ve inspired me. And too bad I finished off all the Costco margarita stuff a few weekends ago while day drinking with my friend, that stuff was delicious…
Banana May 5, 2014, 1:23 pm
HEY GUYS, I FOUND MY REBOUND ALREADY!
Happy Cinco de Mayo.
mylaray May 5, 2014, 2:34 pm
Margaritas are my favorites. I think I’m gonna make that recipe tonight while I sit at home with my cat haha. My boss took us out to lunch today at a local Mexican place that has the best margaritas. Mmm I got a little tipsy.
GiantPoodle May 5, 2014, 2:38 pm
I’m celebrating Cinco de Mayo by making an offer on my first house! (And to think, I was complaining on the last deleted thread about being 27 and living with my parents still.) I’m so excited!
lets_be_honest May 5, 2014, 2:42 pm
Yay! Good luck!
Addie Pray May 5, 2014, 3:47 pm
How exciting – post pictures!!
No Pants May 5, 2014, 3:49 pm
This has nothing to do with Cinco de Mayo, but I just realized that the blouse I’m wearing is completely sheer in one section. So, I’ve been flashing anyone who has visited my office today, and the dudes at Panera. I promise it wasn’t sheer when I looked in the mirror this morning.
Banana May 5, 2014, 4:14 pm
Is it one of those sneaky ones that’s only sheer in, like, one stripe or one part of the pattern? Those are the worst. Sometimes in non-professional settings I try to get away with that one look you can do with those, where you wear a black bra underneath and just own the sheerness, but I’m not sure I can pull it off completely.
No Pants May 5, 2014, 4:22 pm
Banana, YES. It is a stupid sneaky blouse with sheer stripes, and I really did not notice until I happened to look down and could see my bra and stomach. I can definitely wear it again, but with a cami. The sheer stripe goes right down the front, so my blazer doesn’t help at all. It’s too close to the end of the day to have He Pants bring me a different top, so for now I’m wearing my spring jacket and telling people I’m just cold.
I wish I could pull off that look, too. I always think I can in my head and then chicken out when it’s the real deal.
CatsMeow May 5, 2014, 3:55 pm
I already celebrated Cinco de Mayo and now I’m on day TWO of a hangover. Wahhh.
Wendy's Sister May 5, 2014, 4:20 pm
Happy birthday, Wendy’s mom/my mom! You’re the best, and I’m so fortunate to be your daughter!