Thursday, January 2, 2014

you can do better, 2014.

2014 is off to a pretty lame start. I say this because I'm sick. Once I feel better, I'm sure I'll think 2014 is amazing and sparkly and awesomesauce, in accordance with my normally sunny disposition. But today I think it's lame.

We actually rang in the New Year with FRIENDS this year! This is definitely a noteworthy (and excellent) change from our usual habits. We enjoyed spending NYE with two other couples (and their combined 5.5 kids). There was tasty food, beverages, and great conversation-- all in all, a happy way to start 2014. And I took exactly zero pictures. So you'll just have to imagine what 6 adults eating tacos around a living room looks like-- I'll try to do better next year.

Yesterday I woke up to discover that my annual arch-nemesis, a chronic bronchitis flare-up, seems to be here for a visit. Chronic bronchitis is the stupidest thing ever. I don't understand why doctors all seem to agree that it's a 'thing,' that they all treat it the exact same way (steroids and prescription cough syrup), but yet they won't just call in the script for those things when you start getting sick-- they still make you come in and be seen in the office. Even though I know exactly what the issue is and exactly how to 'cure' it? I have to go sit in a waiting room with people with way worse and more contagious diseases so that you can confirm what we both already know (for $35) and send me on my way? That's dumb. Bah. So I haven't gone to the doctor yet because I'm stubborn and cheap and hoping that maybe this time, despite 10 years of evidence to the contrary, I can kick it on my own. 

Despite a hacking cough and the feeling of an elephant sitting on my chest, we went to the gym yesterday morning anyway. I'm either hardcore or insane. Or still enamored by the fanciness of the new gym we joined over the weekend. Matt decided he wanted to try to climb the rope. He had NEVER climbed a rope before! Can you believe it? Apparently rope climbing wasn't part of the PE curriculum at his private school. I'm also guessing that graduates of his private school are going to do really poorly during a zombie apocalypse, what with their lack of rope-climbing-training. It just seems like an important thing to know how to do during end-of-the-world scenarios. But I digress.

Sorry for the blurry photos. He was kind of swinging and swaying...

Naturally, Matt was able to climb all the way to the top of the rope on his first try. Never one to be upstaged, I insisted on giving it a whirl right after him. You know, what with my extensive public school rope-climbing experience...I was sure it would be a piece of cake.


Annnnndddd....that's about how far I made it. About 3 feet off the floor. Apparently I had more upper-body strength (or less lower-body weight?) during elementary school. And apparently I'm going to be dead when the zombies arrive. So maybe this is my new fitness goal: be able to climb up the rope. I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress. Also, this picture is a screenshot of the video Matt chose to take of my attempt. Yeah. It's the most pathetic video ever. Maybe in a few months there will be a more impressive 'after' video.

In between cups of hot tea and puffs on my inhaler, I've been giving some thought to planning some trips this year. I'm contemplating planning a few smaller, four-day-weekend-type trips instead of one 'big' trip. Maybe. I just have a hankerin' to see more places. So what're your favorite (U.S.) travel destinations that can be reasonably seen/experienced in about four days? It's a big country, and I haven't seen nearly enough of it. Help me narrow it down! I was thinking maybe we would do one 'city'-type trip and one more scenic/nature trip? Who knows. This whole idea has less than 24 hours of thought in it at this point, so I'm just throwing it out there. But if you are thinking "OH!!! _____ is the best place to spend a four-day weekend!!!" you should definitely share. I want to plan a few trips so that we have tangible things to look forward during 2014. Even though the year is off to a lame start, I have high hopes that it won't stay that way for long.

Have a great day back at work (if you're like me)! And if you're still at home in your PJs...this is me giving you the squinty stink-eye.

35 comments:

  1. I forget where you live...so these destinations may not be close enough...but I really enjoyed long weekends in St. Louis and in Nashville. Lots of fun stuff in St. Louis (especially during baseball season!...and if you drink beer - home of the Budweiser Brewery!) and Nashville is just cool and fun. Those would be my suggestions. :)

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  2. Your gym is FANCY! I haven't seen a rope in a gym since fifth grade. I also never made it past a few feet, either. Nashville is a pretty fun weekend trip! I've been twice- once when I was 13, and then a few years ago for a Garth Brooks concert. Obviously, the latter trip was the best.

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  3. Seattle is a great place to spend a 4-day weekend, in my opinion, but you are pretty dang far from Seattle so the travel to/from might take too much time! I also vote for Salt Lake City, but again with the distance thing...

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  4. I have been reading your blog for a month or so now. I can't remember how, why, when etc. But you crack me up. Your writing is halarious, and so real. I love that you are just very real on your blog. I only wish I knew you in person. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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  5. KW! KW! KW!!! But that's outside the US.

    New York City is pretty awesome! You wouldn't be able to do everything in four days (obviously) but you could do a lot. We might be going to New York City this year for our anniversary so if you decide to do an anniversary trip there too let me know!!!

    And we've already got a huge, a big and a minor trip planned for this year so I'm pretty excited about that :)

    And when the zombie apocalypse hits I can't climb ropes at all so all you have to do is stand beside me and they'll get me first. Ha!

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  6. Of course I'm going to suggest DALLAS!! But I'm also the one who would add "Texas" to your location question on the survey, so take that with a grain of salt

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  7. I don't think I could climb a rope anymore either! My arms hurt just thinking about it.

    OH!!! Washington DC is the best place to spend a four-day weekend!!! 1. We could hang 2. Lots of free museums if that's you're thing 3. Lots of wineries that we could hang out at! 4. Lots of delicious restaurants!

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  8. "More upper-body strength or less lower-body weight" -- amen and amen. My (lack of) upper body strength is impressive; I never knew it was possible to be this weak. Granted, my performance in the President's Challenge tests in elementary school was always sub par, so I guess that doesn't exactly say much for my fitness abilities...

    One day I hope to take one of those all-inclusive resort trips to some tropical oasis, but I do love a good weekend road trip, too! Chattanooga, Asheville, Charleston, St. Augustine, St. Simons...have you ever played a tourist in Atlanta?? I've always wanted to do that. Lived here for 30.5 years and there is SO much that I haven't done in Atlanta. I'd love to spend a weekend being a tourist in my hometown. Take a segway tour, visit the World of Coke, spend the night at a "W" hotel...probably wouldn't waste the money to ride the new Ferris wheel, but there's still a ton of stuff to do in Atlanta that could make for a fun weekend getaway. This makes me want to start planning some trips! Anything to escape this yucky weather!

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  9. We are starting off the new year the exact same way! Blah, here's to 2014. I have no upper body strength either. I watch my kids do the monkey bars and I go to give them a try and can't even move to the next bar. Charleston and Chattanooga are great long weekend trips that are driving distance. If you are looking to fly, NYC is great!

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  10. Oh how I love vacation planning. Makes me feel so full of purpose and puts me in a great mood. If you're looking to still get your beach on while here in the states, Destin is B-e-a-utiful (think world's top beaches, according to travel channel and, you know, me). Seattle is on my own list of places to go so it's probably great like other people suggested. Nature like? Maybe Gatlinburg in TN? I've never been there either but heard lots about it and we're tossing around the idea of going in the spring. Cabins, lakes, and... other outdoor stuff? And white water rafting of you're feeling crazy! Happy vacay dreaming/planning.

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  11. OK so no one has thrown this out there yet and personally I haven't gone yet but I hear that Las Vegas is a great place to spend 4 days!

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  12. Squinty stink-eye, huh? Well I am still in my PJs, but hopefully you'll forgive me as I've already had injection one of three today.

    I totally suck at vacationing in 4 days... It's just a skill I never learned (which is why we never vacation). When I think vacation, I think Hawaii, or Europe, Disney, Colorado, or Caribbean... Not charleston. I just can't get excited about 90% of the US... The 10% I can get excited about is obviously Alaska, Hawaii, and Colorado, all of which require more than 4 days. Let me know if you get any awesome ideas though... I'm not proud of my snooty vacation dreams and I'm happy to change!

    Hope you feel better and get to save your $35!

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  13. Hope you feel better soon! And we're kinda on the same page with traveling this year. I'm thinking 2 or 3 long-weekends or 4 day vacays to new spots for Drew to see! But then I see a friends post on facebook in the caribbean and I'm like 'GET ME THERE NOW!!!!'

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  14. I'd do DC, NYC or the Grand Canyon. I live pretty close to DC and all I've managed to "see" as in got out of the car for was the Zoo. We've driven past things and I held down the fort...er.. van with sleeping children while Brandon ran into Georgetown Cupcakes. That's about all.

    Oh and I want to do Chicago. San Diego was BEAUTIFUL. Oh and Seattle is on my list too. Brandon went for work but I've not been.

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  15. Um….JESSICA'S HOUSE IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO VISIT IN 2014!!!! We have mountains, plains and lots of other awesomeness around….like us! Ha. Serious though, if you want to come of one of those squarish states in the middle of the US, we have really gorgeous mountains with fun, yuppy ski towns.

    And, I think 3 feet up the rope is amazing. I wouldn't even make it that far. My upper body strength is lame. Love you and hope you are feeling better soon.

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  16. Oh boo! So sorry you aren't feeling well, but hope you get better soon!!!! Traveling questions are right down my alley :) hmm... West Coast (Seattle/Portland), Colorado, The Carolinas, Destin or Gulf Shores? Ok... I'm better at the out of country traveling questions....

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  17. No fun being sick!! Hope you feel better soon!

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  18. boo I am sick too with the same thing and am at work too :( I have my inhaler and breathing machine out right now (the asthma has kicked in as well). When I feel better I'll think of some fabulous place for you to go :)

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  19. I've never been able to climb the rope. My zombie apocalypse plan involves makeup, tattered clothes, and eau de zombie in an attempt to blend in.

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  20. Boston, duh! But in all seriousness... San Fran. Totally my favorite city!

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  21. feel better soon! I like Charleston, Hilton Head, NYC, Boston, Chicago, and Phoenix! Planning trips was our #1 source of coping in 2012 and most of 2013! I highly recommend it! Especially if you decide to start treatment - you will need a getaway!

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  22. Drew and I are considering Boulder, Colorado this year and even more crazily we are thinking we will drive....from Virginia. Oy vey. Hope you feel better!!!

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  23. Well you could always do a Northeast tour and visit ALL four of us loyal New England Yankee blog readers..haha. I am sure you have been there but we LOVE OBX, NC. We actually got married there and it is rather lovely and quaint in the winter.

    Random Thought - I teach at a private school and we definitely do NOT have rope climbing in our PE curriculum, however, my husband and I both attended public schools where rope climbing was part of the gymnastics unit... weird...

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  24. Washington, DC is a wonderful place to visit and if you're there during cherry blossom season it's simply beautiful! (April/May-ish) We are also big fans of Boston. So much that our 15 year anniversary is a 4 day trip to the beautiful city in late May.
    Keep us posted on your destinations of choice...sounds fun!
    And...please stop cheaping out before you get pneumonia.

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  25. I love Gatlinburg TN (so much that we even honeymooned there!) There are some tourists traps like the entire city of Pigeon Forge and Dolly World, but the scenery is beautiful and there is a lot of history tours you can do. If you like more outdoorsey type things, then you can white water raft, zipline and hike. We always stay in the cabins in the mountains and they're peaceful and wonderful. If you're interested, let me know and I can tell you the cabin rental place we use and good times to go.

    P.S. I have no idea where you live, so this might not be a reasonable four day trip for you, but you should do it someday anyways.

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  26. OMG I agree with above East Coast blog friend visit idea. PA is simply lovely any time of year!

    But in case that doesn't float your boat, I agree with the NYC suggestion. Predictable, maybe, but for good reason. It's the best damn city in the world (IMO).

    Eric and I had a really awesome time in Denver, and went to Boulder, too. It was just beautiful. I would recommend waiting til warmer months though - we went in January of last year and it was brrrr cold!

    Hope you feel better soon. No advice for bronchitis, sorry :(

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  27. Boston Boston Boston Boston!!!!!! Greatest place on this earth. Let me know if you need any help planning a weekend there. I lived there for 5 years and miss it every.single.day. I live in DC now and am having a very difficult time adjusting!
    If nature is more your scene, the Shenandoah Valley is GORGEOUS. Think Skyline Drive, the Appalachian Trail, river cabins, wineries. Lots of wineries! Luray would be a good town to reference for the area, so start there. We actually did our mini honeymoon for 4 days there in April and loved it.
    But seriously. Boston.

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  28. Not cool, bronchitis, not cool at all! Ok so places we've visited in the US that I would recommend: Seattle (favorite for sure), San Diego, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago NYC. Or you could do Colorado or somewhere mountain-y? I know you're a beach fan, though, so not sure if that would appeal to you.

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  29. I'm impressed that you even tried the rope. I am a fellow private school graduate and we never even had a rope in gym class so. . . I am right there with Matt I guess! Except I wouldn't be able to even get off the ground.

    We had a blast in Chicago!! September was the perfect time to go! I have also heard awesome things about San Diego and Seattle.

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  30. Three feet is better than zero feet! Wishing you health and happiness in 2014~

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  31. I hated the rope in elementary school! I never got to the top! Travel ideas: Captiva Florida, St. Augustine, Nashville, Austin, Tx, Charleston. We love all of these places!! Let us know what you decide!

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  32. You know I'm going to say Denver, so there it is, Denver. You can spend two days in the city and then two in the mountain town of your choice. I would also recommend San Francisco, a GREAT four day city, or maybe Santa Fe, or Newport Rhode Island.

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  33. I'm going to have to read through all of these comments and learn about all of the great places to spend a long weekend! That sounds fabulous. Good luck with your trip planning!

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