Summary of Vacation

We went to Chicago last week for vacation. We left Thursday morning and arrived back Wednesday evening. Total cost: just under $700.

We took the MegaBus there and back: $11.50 with a change fee. Before the fee, $4.50. Sweet. But, one flaw – it advertised free wi-fi and we couldn’t get connected on the way to Chicago. We don’t know if it worked coming back or not; at that point, it wasn’t worth unpacking it if it didn’t.

We stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Skokie: $190 after employee discount. Very nice hotel and friendly staff. All were helpful too except the evening staff who didn’t know when the hotel shuttled seemed to run. Example: they okayed a 7:15 am shuttle to the yellow line on Thursday. We were in the lobby at 7:12 and I let the staff know we were their 7:15. They told me the yellow line shuttle ran at 7 and the next wouldn’t run until 7:40. Thanks; this was the one day we needed to make a connection. (Miscommunication happened 1 or 2 other times also.)

Once there, we got around with the CTA: $56, one trip on the Metra (mistake): $7, and a cab ride after the CTA stopped running to our location: $19. We could have avoided the Metra had we known there was a difference between CTA and Metra. The cab we expected to pay for because the CTA didn’t run to Skokie that late, but it was more than I expected due to the short distance (5 miles).

Our favorite outing was the Blue Man Group: $156 + a DVD: $20. So worth it! We decided Friday night to go and were still able to get in the poncho (wet) section. It was simply amazing.

Skydeck was our lowest enjoyment attraction due to crowding: $32. The view was awesome, but with so many people on the floor, we couldn’t stand in awe for too long.

We spent nearly 4 hours in the IL Holocaust Museum: $24. Much, much better than I had anticipated. If you are interested in the time period and are in Skokie, do it.

Quiet day at the mall: $32 (theater and a game we played later at the hotel). This was much cheaper than what we had planned for the day. We were both sick so less people and more fresh air was a very welcome relief for us. Patrick also picked up my birthday present for me.

Adler Planetarium (not again), Shedd Aquarium (enjoyable), Field Museum (eh), and the Science & Industry Museum (would have a membership if we lived there): $0 each. We didn’t plan our vacation around the free dates since we booked the hotel before thinking about attractions. However, once we figured it out, we did plan to visit these attractions on their respective free days.

We also checked out/walked around Navy Pier, Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, Michigan Avenue, Millenium Park, and some smaller parks/gardens. By default, these are free.

We had a couple miscellaneous expenses (padlock for suitcase, batteries, new toothbrush covers, etc.): $20.

The rest was all food so that wasn’t the greatest by any means. Breakfast was included with the cost of the hotel. Lunches were fast food since we were out and about. Dinners were either at the restaurant attached to the hotel or with the groceries we had picked up. We ate out 2 nights that we had planned on staying in so we brought a couple grocery items home and tossed a couple others before the trip home. FYI, groceries are much more expensive in Chicago – here you can buy a 24-pack of Dew for $5; there the same amount buys you only half.

We were sick nearly the entire time – I still am – so that hindered our fun a wee bit.

Overall though: awesome, well-deserved, much-anticipated, worth-it trip!

Busy, Busy, Busy…

Lame, I know. It’s a clearly overused excue that we all give and get. And I need to come up with something better if I’m going to be dishing out excuses for not being around for two months! What? I said I was busy!

Work has been busy, but good. The Iowa State Fair treated us pretty well. Not as good as (my) biggest competitor, but they’ve been in business longer and are able to do what they want. Screw them. Next year? No corporate, group, friends & family, or employee rates at my hotel. It’s already been decided. I’ve got some awesome new employees too who – shocker – actually care about how well they do at their job! It’s nice. I can hand tasks off to them. I don’t give them crappy projects to work on either. Well, more like her because the other isn’t ready for projects yet. But she takes them because she’s like me. She wants to learn and get her hands on anything that will advance her. My learning has stalled again, but with the slowing of business, maybe that will change again.

I only been doing the minimal around the house. You know, wash laundry when it’s piled high. Put it away when you can no longer find anything in the clean pile. Wash dishes when the sink is full or we are out of bowls. No worries. Our house is clean. In fact, on any given day, it would take about 20 minutes to clean everything up. So maybe I haven’t been doing the minimal?

I didn’t go to the gym at all in August save last Thursday and this coming Monday. Between my work schedule and having a kidney infection, it just wasn’t going to work. I missed the gym. I don’t know if I’ll go back to pole or not though. While it was fun, it isn’t really something that I’m able to advance in without extra effort. Going to the gym is effort enough as far as I’m concerned.

That is all for now. It’s 2 pm and I haven’t even began to get ready for the day. We may be going bowling for Patrick’s work function or we may be going back to the hometown to see my parents, aunt & uncle, and grandparents. Haven’t decided…

Undomestic Goddess

I just finished a book called Undomestic Goddess. It was amazing. The end was a bit abrupt, but that’s ok. I needed to get something done today anyhow.

I have been feeling like an undomestic goddess lately. That was until last week. I’ve cleaned the house (and yes, I had help). I’ve made some freezer meals – haven’t done that in a while. We’ve both done quite a bit of laundry. I’ve cooked – even a nice dinner for a short-notice friend. I just felt like I’ve been accomplishing something around here for once. Though, if you look around the house at this very instant, you wouldn’t think that way!

Last week’s start was spurred by the fact that I had no idea what was in the freezer. Of course, while I’m organizing it, I think that I should brown this, that should be made into a meal, maybe I can marinade that, etc. So some meals were prepared. And we had literally like a month’s worth of clean laundry to iron and put away. I never got around to ironing; I cheated and used the dryer to un-wrinkle my clothes. Doesn’t matter. The laundry is clean and presentable and most importantly, put away. Well, except the load that was washed after I put away the month’s worth.

And today, Amber ends bootcamp telling us we need to eat a good carb and protein within 45 minutes of working out. Seriously? It’s my day off. I planned on going back to bed just like any other day. Plus, I have no idea what a good carb is. I do know that donuts fall into the bad carb category. haha. So I warmed up some chicken (thank goodness I had de-boned one last week!) and stuck it on a tortilla. And then slightly drizzled it with light ranch dressing. And then was in bed, cuddling with Patrick, and hour after class was dismissed.  Take that!

Don’t worry – I only laid in bed about an hour. After Patrick left, I finished my book. Then got to work: 6 egg, ham & spinach wraps, 6 sausage & spinach tarts, and 6 hard-boiled eggs. That’s 3 and a half weeks worth of breakfasts. I also made some slightly sweetened carrots for the freezer and some pizza burgers. I’m taking a lunch break while the tarts cool, but then I’ll finish cleaning the kitchen and take a nap before Patrick gets home.

Confessions

I’m cranky. I have been all week. I think I’m sleep-deprived.

I liked you better before your confession tonight. I thought you were a perfect role model. But I guess you are fake. And I can’t afford fake (and don’t want to go that route). So now I don’t know what to think of you. I’m sure you noticed.

I almost want to quit pole. No. Take that back. I wanted to cry at pole tonight because I want to quit. I seriously 1) am not strong enough 2) can’t figure out the #?*! split grip. Cannot. And it’s a vital grip. I will never get past Level 2 if I can’t get my split grip! And it’s not like I can just come home and practice it for hours upon hours.

I did the most random thing that I’ve ever done in my life tonight: Walking back to the apartments, some guys hollered down from their 3rd floor patio, asking if I’d do a favor. I very cautiously said maybe. They explained that they had locked themselves outside and obviously weren’t going to jump; could I please come up to their apartment and unlock their door? I agreed to it even though it probably wasn’t the world’s smartest move – it’s not like Patrick was down here to come rescue me if it were a trap. All was well though. They offered me a Bud Light. I’m sure Patrick will be disappointed to know I turned it down.

I haven’t put away the laundry from last weekend yet because I don’t know how to iron some of these items and I really don’t want to learn.

The dishes haven’t been done all week either. No reasoning there besides I’m tired. I really don’t care that they aren’t done either, except some diary product is a little on the stinky side. I’ll do it tomorrow. Along with the dishes.

We burn CDs from the library. Not just one or two either. Patrick came up with a list of ones he will soon be borrowing from the library. It’s nearly one hundred. And I’m sure we’ve taken advantage of at least 50 more. I’m contemplating donating my books – with very few exceptions, I only read them one – and our CDs to the library. Not to be nice or support the library. To curb my guilt.

I’m really not a big fan of fragments and probably would be annoyed with someone who blogged this way, but it’s how I think. And it’s how the words appear on the screen. Whatever. Don’t read if you don’t want to.

And for the big finale … I was upside-down on a pole tonight! Only for a little bit and probably not very pretty-like, but I did it.

Flirt Graduation

Here is the link to my Flirt Graduation at The Girls Room Inc! It wasn’t the best, but it was certainly a million times better than my attempt the week before. This group of girls were really insync with each other. I can’t hear a beat well, so that was very helpful to me to be able to follow them. If you watch my face, you can tell I was concentrating way too hard – she moved the camera from the back of the room to the front! It was really fun and I think I’m ready for Level 2 – Angels.

Confidence

I was asked today if I was losing any weight at the gym. I turned red because I’m sure I’m not – my eating habits are still way out of whack. I don’t even want to go there. Anyways, so I turn red and mumbled that I only weighed and measured myself once, nearly a month into it. A co-worker chirped up  that it is more about how you feel. I agreed, taking that as my out.

Then I went to class. Jodey, one of the instructors, commented on how I was doing really well. As dead-tired and sore as I am this week, I knew she was right. That resulted in a happy little burst of energy. Fast-foward to 90 minutes later. Level 1 Week 6. Yes, I know, I already taped last week. Trust me, it wasn’t near as good as this. I left the gym on a high. An euphoria. Obviously, it helped that I was in one of the top graduating classes - thank you ladies! – who also happen to be a supportive and friendly bunch. I keep refreshing the channel to see if our graduation video is up yet. It is not. (Come on, Amber!)

In conclusion: having the confidence to post the video where all sorts of family and friends and random internet strangers can see, is a step in the right direction to a healthier me.

And yes, once the video is posted, I’ll link to it.

Thank You Verizon

Thanks to Verizon sending out my $100 rebate for my Blackberry in a timely manner, we have no red this month! It came just in time to be able to be used on the Verizon bill. Because of that, we were able to pay off Patrick’s credit card in full – we’ve never not done this and it would have only been next week to pay it off. That is all!

Red June

There isn’t a lot of red in June. In fact, there is just one red balance in June’s forecasted cash flow. It’s not even a significant amount of money. However, it occurs this Saturday. And lasts until next Friday. That is all. Must go find a remedy now.

Bootcamp, Chickboxing and Bring a Friend

I did chickboxing this morning after a 2-hour rest from bootcamp. Bootcamp rocks*. Chickboxing was … I don’t know. I liked it and all, but I felt like I wasn’t being as pampered by this instructor as well as I had been by others. I’ve never taken any type of boxing before. Unfortunately the only direction we were given was, “Right jab, left hook, right cross, knee, kick – in 4, 3, 2, 1!” I sort of know my punches, but I didn’t know what I round-house? kick was, and we did that often. (Yes, I did figure that one out!) I wasn’t the only newb in a full class of “pros” either. It just frustrates me a bit because I really wanted to get in another great workout today, but I felt slighted.

 

*Bootcamp. I like it. It’s early so I can get my day started. I haven’t figured out if I can or want to workout right before work on the days that I have to work the AM shift though. I could wash off at work, but not really shower. I did it this morning and it was ok, but slightly awkward-ish. Bootcamp kicks my butt. That’s a good thing. Great, actually. My favorite part though? The 3 laps we run outside. Ha, I miss my runs.

 

It’s Bring a Friend week. Sorry if you didn’t get the notice. One of my friends came. Level One Week Five Pole Fit. No, she’d never did pole before. I thought it was going to be really awkward and all. (Totally random – but don’t you hate how awkward the word awkward is spelled?) I hadn’t taken week 3 or 4. Oh yea, and week 5 is learning the routine for the assessment in week 6. So nothing new. No demonstrations of this is how you do a front hook. My friend did pretty well. Of course, I wasn’t watching her the whole time by any means because I was trying to get the routine down. Nevertheless, Amber even said she rocked it. I think I did ok. I know I’ve done most of the tricks that we are doing for the assessment, but I’d really like to be able to do week 3 and 4 before I do my assessment so I don’t miss out on anything. My friend will be returning to the free Pole Tease on June 11 at The Girls Room Inc. I say that was a successful bring a friend session!

Recap of Week

I’m beat tonight and have no reason to be! I really haven’t accomplished much this week and certainly haven’t fulfilled by 48-hour a week requirement. Work has been incredibly slow with the upcoming holiday; I swear nobody works the week before or after holidays and nobody seems to be traveling for this holiday. And of course, I’ve been on mids so there has been someone else there to do half my work. And then today I left early just because I could. I sure the heck hope my pay doesn’t get cut for that choice, but I’ll make it up next week, I’m sure. Enough about work. I’m kind of over it anyways. But I’ll save that for another post.

I haven’t told you this yet, but we have some awesome news on the money front: Patrick’s car is paid off in full! One less bill each month. We need to roll that money over onto extra payments for my car, but this month blows for money. (We – ok, I – spent a little extra on a summer work wardrobe and are short a few bucks for about a week.) I need to sit down again and re-work the budget. I thought I had it all figured out, but maybe it’s just being thrown off by the large credit card bill and not-so-hot paychecks.

I realize that I haven’t given a review of my gym, The Girls Room Inc, lately either. How’s this for a review: I signed on for an annual membership! I get $5 off per month, received a free tank top, and will get a private pole lesson with Amber. Plus 6 of my very best friends will get a free pass to the gym too! I’m excited about the lesson, although there is no way I’m wasting it this early on knee spins and walks. And yes, I’ve taken pole officially now. Amber signed me up for Level 1 Week 3 (L1W3) and I stuck around for Trix that week (I think?) where we did some Level 2 items. Then I did Tease, followed by L1W1. I’m missing out on week 4 this week, but will be back for week 5 next week. I however will not be joining L1W6 anytime soon as that is the performance week and I have no idea what I’m doing yet. Plus my darn arms are weak and my hands are sweaty! (I think I’ll have to suggest to Amber that I get a chalk bag for being her first annual membership. It’s totally a great “prize”!) Next week, I’ll be taking 5 new (to me) classes as the schedule is all changed around for June. Whatever works for Amber, I’ll make it work for me. Well, just as long as I don’t have to do dance classes!

Patrick and I got to spend a decent amount of time together this week. Much needed, as usual. Wednesday was ultra-hot date night. He toted my sick butt along to the grocery store with him. Romantic, huh? No worries, we can top that too. Thursday we cleaned the house together. Ok, admittedly he did about 85% of the work. But he’s so good at it! I don’t tell him enough, but I do appreciate everything he does around the house and for me!

And of course, I’m thrilled to have actually spent time with my family! My sister and her guy got a hot tub installed. Pretty nifty…and the drinks were good too! This weekend I’ll be helping Mom scan items for the upcoming family reunion. Should be a decent time for bonding, yea?

That’s it for now. Need to shower and work on that budget.