This picture pretty much sums up my week. It was a doozy. And to top it all off, I recorded a Drinking With Wendy where I made a pomegranate margarita in honor of National Margarita Day, which is tomorrow, and the damn audio didn’t work and I just didn’t have the energy to re-record. Plus, I was out of lime juice. But fear not, I will try again soon. You all need to know the deliciousness of a pomegranate margarita.
Anyway, there is not much else to say except TGIF. Drew is finally done with his crazy two-week Olympic schedule (literally and figuratively) and we can resume normalcy in our home, which will be nice. He even gets today off, so our weekend is already in full effect, which anyone who is a stay-at-home-parent and/or has a 2-year-old knows is actually “weekend” in quotes, but that’s ok — even a “weekend” is a welcome break. Happy weekend or “weekend” to all of you!
![\"\"](\"https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=r/y/j1a0Sn00OI\")
Miss MJ February 21, 2014, 4:28 pm
Happy weekend and TGIF indeed! I’m gonna hold you to that pomegranate margarita. Yum!
It is the first weekend of Mardi Gras here and I just love this time of year. Everyone’s happy and cheerful and friendly and either drunk or preparing to be drunk and it’s such a great vibe. Plus, the weather finally isn’t awful. Yay for the weekend!!
CatsMeow February 21, 2014, 8:17 pm
Are you in NOLA? St. Louis has a biggish Mardi Gras which I’ve actually never gone to (oops), BUT! This weekend I am going to NAUGHTI GRAS and I will be a “Harem Girl” in my dance teacher’s harem section. I think I’m just supposed to look/act “sexy” and greet people and get them in a “sexy” mood. So we’ll see how that goes? Haha.
Miss MJ February 21, 2014, 8:53 pm
Yep, NOLA. I just googled “Naughti Gras.” That looks so awesome!
CatsMeow February 22, 2014, 12:39 pm
Yeah, hopefully I can get some tips too. 🙂
lets_be_honest February 21, 2014, 4:30 pm
Enjoy your “weekend” and thanks for fixing all the issues this week!
Banana February 21, 2014, 4:32 pm
Ditto that!
kerrycontrary February 21, 2014, 4:34 pm
Happy Weekend! I had a yucky week cause I had a bad migraine wednesday night-thursday. Oh and Wednesday night my toilet broke (the water hose part) and I had to go over to @Christy’s house to pee. I’m thankful my work has such a generous PTO policy though and I don’t have to hesitate about taking off when I feel horrible.
I’m happy for the warm weather this weekend! Can’t wait to take a walk tomorrow morning.
Banana February 21, 2014, 4:35 pm
Oh no, so sorry to hear about the migraine!
jlyfsh February 21, 2014, 4:36 pm
National Margarita day is the best thing that’s happened all week! Also @Alice a baby lamb was born at the local botanical gardens today. So cute! 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/BrookgreenGardens/photos/pcb.10152088585715819/10152088579685819/?type=1&theater
AliceInDairyland February 21, 2014, 5:25 pm
Erhmagerhd it’s chocolate!
AliceInDairyland February 21, 2014, 5:36 pm
I want to shave it and knit a sweater with it and then put it back on the lamb.
bethany February 21, 2014, 4:37 pm
A pomegranate Margie sounds like the best thing ever. Can’t wait for the video!!
I can’t wait for it to be 5. I have Wine Club tonight! YAY!!!
Morgan February 21, 2014, 4:40 pm
I actually don’t work tomorrow, so my weekend is a weekend. And I’m really excited for tomorrow because the bf and I are getting together with my parents an celebrating the million good things that have happened recently. The biggest of which is my bf finally getting into medical school, which is a huge relief. Although the only acceptance he has so far is for his in state school, which would mean…complicated things for us. Bridge we’ll deal with if this does end up being his only acceptance.
No Pantalones Today February 21, 2014, 4:42 pm
I plan on putting on my buffet pants after work and eating cookies because I want to punch winter and salads in the face. I’m taking a painting class at the Main Line Art Center tomorrow (YAY!!!) and I am so so excited! After that, I will probably put my buffet pants back on.
Banana February 21, 2014, 4:42 pm
Random question: does anyone else ever feel like they’re only fully themselves when they’re alone, or with maybe one or two special people in their lives? I feel that way. It’s not that I’m pretending to be a completely different person around other people — in fact, there’s no pretending at all. It’s just that, depending on the company, I might try to tone down one part of my personality while with other people I’ll let that thing fly but I’ll tamp down on something else. For example, there are people that I work hard not to swear as much around, even though with my close friends I swear like a sailor. There are some people I can talk very openly about religion and spirituality with, and others I refrain from speaking my thoughts around even if the topic comes up, just to smooth things over. I’d say I only feel fully, 100%, no-holds-barred MYSELF when I’m alone, around my mom, around Banano, or with two specific close friends from my past.
*
This is all to say that after a two-week span that’s included a business trip, a trip with Banano’s family, and a house guest immediately after, I am EXHAUSTED. And when I look forward to the weekend, I think what I’ll enjoy most is just getting back to being totally Banana for a couple of days.
bethany February 21, 2014, 4:50 pm
I feel like I’m my fullest self when I’m with my extended family. I never hold any part of myself back from others, but I feel like when I’m around them my true essence comes out… If that makes sense.
Banana February 21, 2014, 4:55 pm
Perfect sense. Thanks 🙂 I feel a little less…nuts knowing someone understands that.
lets_be_honest February 21, 2014, 5:01 pm
Yes, I think I’m the same. I’m certainly happiest when I’m with all of them and Peter says I have a different glow about me when they are home. Now I miss them 🙁
Kate February 21, 2014, 4:51 pm
Yes, I feel that way too, Banana.
No Pantalones Today February 21, 2014, 4:53 pm
Yes. Totally. I can talk about anything with my friends from college and my husband, but it’s very different with my Philly friends, except for two of them. I get what you mean about just wanting to smooth things over. A few of my lady friends are kinda mean girls and sometimes it’s just not worth dealing with having to hear them go off because they disagree with me. It makes me sad – because I think that, otherwise, we could learn a lot from each other.
othy February 21, 2014, 4:54 pm
It’s funny, I feel like myself both when I’m alone with Othello, or when I’m with my family sans Othello. Although the two selves aren’t the same. Like, with Othello I’m the adult me and with my family I’m the kid me. It’s disjointing when I’m with both groups because I’m not sure which me to be. Is that strange?
Banana February 21, 2014, 4:59 pm
Not strange at all — in fact, I think I know exactly what you’re talking about. When I’m with my family alone, we all naturally slip into the kid-me relationship. It’s funny, because when I get home I ALWAYS have a moment when I look around my apartment and think, “Oh, wow. I’m back to adult Banana.” But kid-Banana is still a lot closer to the full-me than any version of me that appears at the office, or with my casual friends, with Banano’s family, etc.
Kate February 21, 2014, 5:03 pm
That one I don’t relate to. I don’t really feel like a kid around my parents (which may be because I’m older than you guys). I feel like the same level of maturity around them or my husband.
Banana February 21, 2014, 5:13 pm
Maybe it’s because othy and I don’t have kids of our own? Then again, i can’t remember if you have kids, or if othy doesn’t. DWfail. But I’ve noticed that there seems to be a shift in perception when the kids become parents.
lets_be_honest February 21, 2014, 5:16 pm
Not for me! Well, we’re sometimes more “friends” than parent/child, but I still go back to my younger ways like everyone is describing when I’m with my parents.
Banana February 21, 2014, 5:19 pm
Hahaha, that’s awesome. Now that I think about it, I love seeing my aunts and uncles act like “kids” with my parents, even though it only happens in little glimpses here and there. I think it would be neat to still maintain that kind of goofy, child-like relationship with my brothers even when we’re all parents (one of them already is!)
lets_be_honest February 21, 2014, 5:25 pm
It was really cool (/sad, but cool) seeing my mom and aunts & uncles revert back to children when my grandmother was dying. Just seeing how they all interacted and stuff.
othy February 21, 2014, 5:29 pm
One of my favorite memories of my dad is seeing him act like a kid with his two brothers. All three of them are engineers, and like to get ‘into trouble’. We were walking along a beach, and they saw a small bridge going over one of the water inlets. All three of them, without saying a word, ran to the bridge and started shaking it in unison. They realized if they shook it just right, they could make the whole thing wobble. My grandma just shook her head, but my grandfather’s eyes were smiling (he’s also an engineer, and was proud they figured it out). I swear I was looking at what their whole family dynamic was like when my dad was a teenager!
othy February 21, 2014, 5:26 pm
I don’t have kids. I think for me it’s because my folks live far away, and I only get to see them 1-2 times a year. And I sleep in my old bedroom, and I have to ask to borrow a car if I want to go anywhere. And mostly Othello doesn’t come with me because of his schedule/expenses. I guess we haven’t really had an opportunity to develop a normal, adult relationship, except over the phone.
kerrycontrary February 21, 2014, 5:05 pm
Totally know what you mean, but I prefer adult-me. My family can still treat me like the baby sometimes even though I’m a lot more “together” than any of them were at my current age. So that gets frustrating when they try to give me unnecessary advice. Also, I was a brat when i was a child so it’s hard for people to understand I don’t act that way as a grown-up.
kerrycontrary February 21, 2014, 5:07 pm
I totally know what you mean. One of the things my fiance and I liked about each other at first is that we could 100% be ourselves. So I have that with him and a few other people. I don’t feel like I’m faking it with other people, but yeh, I’m holding pieces back so I don’t upset the status quo. Sometimes I have to remember the benefit that comes with being truely honest with other people. Sometimes they’ll surprise you with their acceptance, so I try to do that too. Being around different people exhausts me though.
katie February 21, 2014, 5:14 pm
I call this being “on” and I hate it, lol. It gets particularly hard when I’m doing business related stuff and we are drinking. Thankfully my immediate group at work are all amazing people and I don’t have to be so “on” with them, I feel. A little, but not enough to make it a chore.
AliceInDairyland February 21, 2014, 5:34 pm
Banana. STOP IT. Seriously… seriously? My brain, your brain. etc.
Part of the conversation that spurred my recent jaunt back to therapy was Benjamin and I were talking about how we interact when it’s just us two vs with his friends vs with my friends vs with our families… and he said something like, “You can just be yourself” or something to that degree and that flipped a total panic attack melt down for me. Because I feel like I have a really fluid sense of self? I am whoever the other person/people need me to be? Like… a chameleon is always a chameleon but they can be perceived radically differently depending on where they are.
We have had talks in school about how in order to be the most effective communicator you need to match the communication style of the person you are talking to (so like, a client). Some people want just the facts, some people like feelings, some people like metaphors, some people want a whole lot of detail and some people like just a little bit. I feel like….. I do that without thinking about it, with almost everyone in my life. So much so that I couldn’t even pin down what *my* preferred communication style would be because it seems irrelevant because I’m so used to just adapting to everyone else. Which is both weird and kind of depressing.
I’m the “outgoing one” with my shy friends and the “quiet friend” with my talkative friends because it just makes interactions easier and people… feel more comfortable. And I don’t mind because I feel like they’re all facets of me. I think I’m just so good at it that sometimes it becomes more about being who I am supposed to be rather than having an enjoyable interaction. And then I flip out about the suggestion to “be yourself” because that concepts seems like someone is throwing a rock into a dark space and you hear it bouncing all over the place but have no idea how large it is… WHO IS THIS YOURSELF YOU SPEAK OF?!?!
Okay anyways, that was just soo creepily relevant I had to vent. Take what you want.
mrmidtwenties February 21, 2014, 5:45 pm
Haha, oh my god, I love this, and it’s how I feel on a day to day basis. I don’t have the energy to extrapolate on this, so I’m glad you said everything I was thinking of @Malice
AliceInDairyland February 22, 2014, 4:00 pm
Okay I felt super crazy after I hit post and re-read it over so thank you. Also thank you to the 5 people who liked the comment. I do not feel so alone. 🙂
CatsMeow February 21, 2014, 8:20 pm
Yeah, I guess I tone down parts of my personality around people I don’t know too well. But I’m not always very good at it, which is why one of my friends has nicknamed me No Filter.
Christy February 22, 2014, 9:42 am
Definitely. I think I’m only fully myself, can talk about anything and be 100% honest with my best friend from high school and my gf. Even my best friend from college, we avoid some topics and never figured out how to talk about hard things we disagree on. We’re working on it, though.
.
One thing that I’ve realized is that I like gf better than I like anyone else. Like, I’d rather spend time with gf than anyone else. And it feels a little weird, because I’ve known these other people SO MICH LONGER, and still, I prefer gf. And I’d like to think that it’s not just because we’re boning, you know? I genuinely enjoy her company and her discussions more.
Northern Mermaid February 23, 2014, 4:19 pm
That’s how I feel about Northernmerman, Christy. I told him that last night, because I had a perfectly nice outing with a coworker, but I got home and was like “That would have been more fun with Travis”
SisiSodaPop February 21, 2014, 4:43 pm
Happy “weekend” to you, too Wendy!
In case anyone cares, my “solo” vacation with my 3yr old and 22month old went off without a hitch. I actually got escorted through first class security, and the TSA was extra nice and patient with us 🙂 I’ll admit that I decided to get a couple of those stuffed animal backpack/harness things with leashes, and I went about my business and I did not give a flying fack what anyone thought. Interestingly enough, I didn’t get as many “look at that horrible mom who puts her kids on leashes like dogs” looks as I expected, and actually got a few compliments on what a good idea it was. And my kids loved them. Whouldathunk? On the first leg of the trip we even got the only extra seat on the flight, so baby didn’t have to sit on my lap the whole time. I used lollipops for ascending/descending and it worked like a charm. My 3yo said the plane was tickling her tummy, and baby squealed “wheeeee!” no vomit – no tears and, thankfully, I had no diaper blowouts, the kids didn’t either 😉 It wasn’t exactly easy, but went better than expected. Yay!
lets_be_honest February 21, 2014, 4:47 pm
I used to use those at the airports too. Honestly, they just made me feel safer. No shame there!
CatsMeow February 21, 2014, 8:22 pm
I remember as a kid, I’d see other kids on leashes, and always wanted to be on one too. But my mom never used them.
TaraMonster February 21, 2014, 5:14 pm
I have a great weekend ahead! Tonight I’m going to an improv show with my boyfriend. And tomorrow I get to hang out with my new little brother and take 10 billion pictures of his newborn cuteness before I head to the NY DW meetup. Sunday is more time with Baby Fitz! Boom. Best weekend evah! 😀 😀 😀
Dear Wendy February 21, 2014, 5:41 pm
Yay DW meetup!
trixy minx February 21, 2014, 6:28 pm
Do you think it’s safe for the meetup?
theattack February 21, 2014, 7:39 pm
I cannot get drunk fast enough, and I found a bunch of le creuset for twenty bucks a piece, and now that Abby Normal made me remember my dreams of being in a ska band all I can do is jump around and scream ska lyrics and wish I could play my horn inside my apartment. Omg I have to be in a ska band. I HAVE TO. I’ve always wanted to give the big middle finger to trumpet players who think they’re the only ones who can play jazz and ska. Fuck that noise!
Fabelle February 21, 2014, 7:43 pm
My dreams have been INSANE lately, ahh! One involved space? like I was driving my car up into space, & came across this planet that had completely imitated everything about Earth—there were houses… like a nice-looking, uniform suburban area, with snow… fake snow? but when we drove/flew closer, there was nothing human-like. Nothing humans would need? No stores, gas stations, etc. & then we went up to the windows, & the aliens looked like mice people. So fucking weird!!
TL;DR … Fab’s on acid, all the time, in her sleep.
mrmidtwenties February 21, 2014, 8:55 pm
Oh my god, I would love to join your DW ska band
theattack February 21, 2014, 9:25 pm
YESSSSDDDS
Lyra February 21, 2014, 7:43 pm
Today it took me 30 minutes to dig my car out. If my neighbors hadn’t helped it would still be stuck so that was awesome.
This weekend is “meet the families” weekend — my cousin’s wedding is tomorrow which I’m excited for. Navy Guy is coming so he’s meeting my crazy ridiculously large family. I’m kind of nervous because I have an uncle who likes to embarrass his nieces. We’ll see how that goes. Then on Sunday we’re going to see Navy Guy’s family because his brother is in town from North Carolina (the brother is in the Marines so he’s Marine Guy). Apparently there are uncles and aunts and cousins coming to so I get to meet some of the family too. I’m kind of nervous admittedly.
Lyra February 22, 2014, 1:08 am
I’m totally drunky drunk drunk right now off of wine. I did laundry tonight and this woman took up ALL THE MACHINES. When she took her stuff out there were like 2 things in there. I fill every load because I’m poor and can’t afford not to fill the washers. This woman had like 6 loads and like a third the amount of clothes that I had in 3 loads.
theattack February 21, 2014, 7:59 pm
Um, DW just advertised a cremation funeral to me.
call-me-hobo February 21, 2014, 9:15 pm
Obviously- theattack you seem to be an old lady who needs to get her affairs in order.
theattack February 21, 2014, 9:24 pm
That is scary accurate. You should come visit me before I croak.
call-me-hobo February 21, 2014, 9:29 pm
Dear DW- I have found the missing ingredient to Wendy’s Bailey’s martini recipe. It’s Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies. I think my brain exploded.
thewriteway February 21, 2014, 10:03 pm
I went out with my mom for her birthday this afternoon and am now just killing the last few minutes of my work shift.
Tomorrow, I am heading to a hiring fair for a local baseball team and feeling a little nervous. This is for seasonal/game day positions, so I wouldn’t have to give up my full-time job to get experience in my chosen area, but I’m a bit nervous because I have decided this is my last crack at getting into sports. I am so worn out on putting in all the unpaid work (those of you that have me on FB probably know I write for a pretty well-known site) and pounding the pavement on the job search, only to get interest for temp positions that pay a few hundred dollars a month (or nothing at all…gotta love internships) but expect full-time hours. I can’t give up my main job for that. So if I don’t get a position out of tomorrow, I’m going to scrap this dream and start looking to other areas to develop my skills.
Right now, I just believe that whatever is meant to happen will, so I am trying to go into tomorrow relaxed with not-too-high expectations.
Christy February 22, 2014, 9:36 am
And remember that just because you aren’t making it your career right now (or taking steps to make it your career right now) doesn’t mean it can’t work out in the future in a way that makes you happy. Maybe you’ll dive full-force into some other career with same hours and higher pay and become a season ticket holder and become the like lead fan, who leads all the cheers (I’m thinking Wild Bill Hagy for the Orioles or Loud Goat for the Capitals). Maybe you’ll be able to volunteer in some other capacity later in life and eventually grow close to the team.
.
I wanted to be a theatrical technical director when I was in college. For a lot of different reasons, I decided that I didn’t want to do theatre professionally. And now, I’m using other skills that I’ve picked up in my day job (that pays well, has benefits, and gives ample time off and work/life balance for only the low low price of my soul) to be a stage manager for a professional theatre company. And if I wanted to work towards making a career of theatre now, as a stage manager, that path is there, even if it’s very different and not what I expected or thought I wanted. I had a theatre professor who was a trained archeologist (whattup, NM) who eventually did a lot of theatre on the side and then went back for his MFA and became a theatre professor.
What in saying is, just because you decide at this juncture that you aren’t pursuing this career doesn’t mean it won’t work out and separately, doesn’t wan you won’t be involved in the field you love and doesn’t mean you won’t be happy. You’ll make it. Hug from an internet stranger!
Northern Mermaid February 23, 2014, 4:25 pm
True story, I’m an archaeologist who used to act. Someday I’ll get back into it.
Morgan February 22, 2014, 11:15 am
I’ve settled on the name of my memoir. Twenty something drinks too much, is hungover for brunch with parents.
Katie February 22, 2014, 12:27 pm
I drew blood on a cat yesterday who tested positive for feline lukemia. It was so sad. He was whisked away immediately to go to the rainbow bridge. Poor guy. His name was bear.
Lyra February 22, 2014, 1:08 pm
So sad. 🙁 The rescue where I got Opal has a specific feline leukemia room. She is a no kill rescue so even if they have the contagious disease she still provides space for them in her home. I’m not versed on cat diseases — is it curable? She has a Facebook page and posted a picture saying that the kitties were going to be re-tested.
d2 February 22, 2014, 4:04 pm
Nope, there is no cure feline leukemia. It attacks the immune system and is similar to human HIV. It is very contagious and can be transmitted as easily as sharing food dishes, water dishes, litter boxes, playing together, etc. A small percentage of cats have a sufficient resistance to suppress the virus and be symptom free for a time, but can still transmit the disease to other cats. You should always have a cat tested before bringing home to other cats.
Years ago, I had a kitten who we think got leukemia from his mother – however, he mysteriously tested negatively to all the standard tests until he was well into the final stages. All we could do was keep him comfortable as he slowly wasted away. He only weighed 2-1/2 pounds when he had a stroke and we had to put him down at 15 months old. He was such a happy little guy, we never regretted spending money to sustain his short life. We were really fortunate that he did not transmit to the other cat, because we had no reason to isolate them from having contact until he exhibited signs of being sick.
katie February 22, 2014, 11:35 pm
No, as d2 said there is no cure. And for the cats who get it, it’s a scary life. Any simple infection can kill them because their immune system is compromised, and if they don’t die that way they will get a painful cancer. And there is no way to predict the timing of anything…. Some litters of kittens born to positive mothers will all die within a month, some will live a relatively long life. It’s horrible.
I am hoping that bear is happier and/or feels no pain now. In addition to the feluk he was really banged up… Cuts and bite marks and missing fur and everything. So I hope he is better now. In other news we have two cats that won’t be there when I go back next week because they have but people five times now. I feel like it’s not been a good week at my shelter…
CatsMeow February 22, 2014, 1:07 pm
I’m so jealous of the meetup happening today! I even had dreams about it!
AliceInDairyland February 22, 2014, 4:03 pm
Alright the weekend……
I finished my sweater!! I only had like 1cm of sleeve left that I put off forever because it involved changing needles and I was so lazy. But I did that, sewed in all the ends, and it’s blocking as we speak and hopefully it fits absolutely perfectly like it should and I will love it forever and ever! I bought more yarn in anticipation of another sweater because this one was really awesome and soothing. And I spent like $45 bucks on yarn so I got a 100% hand made, custom fit, merino sheep wool sweater for $45. Good deal. I’ll put picks up after it’s dry.
Tonight Benjamin and I are going to a “Minnesota Hot Dish” themed pot luck for my friend’s birthday. So basically you can bring anything that you would find at a Minnesota/Wisconsin graduation party, haha. I made a rainbow jello mold that has 5 different colors (but 10 layers because each color is half clear and half opaque with sweetened condensed milk). I’m excited because it should be goofy and fun and there will be tater tots on all the hot dishes.
And then otherwise just lots of studying!
AliceInDairyland February 22, 2014, 4:14 pm
Gahhhh, I just spread it out to dry and I’m afraid the sleeves are going to be awkwardly long… o.O
I tried to smush them up a bit. Here’s hoping.
Regina Chapman February 22, 2014, 4:30 pm
Have you tried it on yet? Maybe you can salvage it by rolling up the sleeves…sort of? In a fashionable way?
I don’t know what I’m talking about.
Oh PS did you see my question about nice crochet/knitting forums? I’m crocheting so much it’s getting out of hand. All my friends already have a hat/fingerless gloves/baby booties/inspirational quote cloths. I need to stop bothering them now.
rachel February 22, 2014, 11:54 pm
Haha, as a short person, I wonder what a sweater with sleeves that are NOT too long would be like.
Christy February 23, 2014, 11:47 am
You guys I just exercised. Sure, it was only a half hour of walking on the trail behind my apartment, but it was exercise! I’m proud of it because I’ve been feeling like a bum recently. I’ve been eating unhealthily and not sleeping enough and not exercising (not that the lack of exercise is all that abnormal) so it’s good to do something to make my body feel better.
I really want to work up to being for enough to enjoy fun exercise. At this point, walking up hills winds me, so it’ll be a while before I can do things like fitness classes and not feel like I’m dying.
snoopy128 February 24, 2014, 1:37 am
Well done!
I’ve been sick all weekend and it has been driving me up the wall that I can’t go exercise. And I’m too lazy to take myself out for a walk. It’s run or bike or bust. Which is such bad thinking. Is it odd I’m too lazy to go for a walk, but not too lazy to run or bike?
So kudo. ‘Cause I find it so hard to find the motivation to walk (without my dog).