Pamper Time: Subie & Lexi

Okay, okay, okay, let's not pretend like I am the only one out there who's ever taken her car's ability to function despite an exactly-routine oil change for granted. Whether it's surprising or not, I am generally not that bad about preventative maintenance and ensuring repairs are done as needed. Oil changes though? I could do better.

I said all that to say that today's top priority was getting my dear little Subie a well-overdue oil change! Not just that, but she got 2 brand new tires, an alignment and a full internal/external wash & detailing. That girl got pampered today! She wasn't the only one; Lexi got her fair share of attention today, too. It was definitely a day dedicated to the cars we've been blessed to have. 

lexi getting a bath...

It was a beautiful day outside. We're in the last couple days of January, and as we adventured out for a day of local tourism, we couldn't help but laugh at the masses of like-minded folks, clad in tshirts, shorts and even a few sandals were sighted! 

It would've been easy to commit today to a marathon of TV shows, lounging, perhaps packing for this upcoming move, or any number of other things, but it felt good to get out and about, contrary to what I'd originally thought I wanted to do today. Haha. Our city, Cincinnati, was wholly appreciated today, as we journeyed across 275, 52, 50, 28 and 125, and drank in everything from downtown to the east end. We didn't make it north, but the quality time I got to spend with Rob will supercede the fact that we spent the afternoon tucked in the car ;). 

We're home now, after a dinner of hibachi, sushi and edamame. 

Tomorrow is the first official meeting for June's SonRise Panama trip, aka Panama, Part II!!! I am beyond excited for this, and am praying there will be a healthy turnout of folks who are interested and able to join in. From what I've heard, it sounds like this trip may be a bit more mild than last year, with less physically-demanding hikes and seclusion; hopefully that provides a more conducive opportunity for a diverse collection of our church family to join in. 

See you bright & early tomorrow! 

xo | cmd

Snowy Sushi Run

This weather has been something. The Farmer's Almanac this year didn't lie in predicting harsh conditions this winter. We had planned yesterday to go out for a sushi night with Becky, but after watching the sleet come down in waves and settle over everything, we all voted it an unsafe venture and rescheduled. She wasn't available tonight, either, so Rob & I hopped up into the diesel and made a break for Fuji over in Eastgate. 

goooood call!

Yyyyum. It's been ages it seems since the last time I ate there, but it was a good decision tonight and I think we've found a hibachi home here. Win!

And yes, the snow is still coming down. It's everywhere.

Be safe out there, friends!

xo | cmd

21 For The 7th Time [BIRTHDAY!]

So if you didn't believe I'm 28 today, well... if it was any number below that and above 18, let's go with what you've got, mmk? Haha.

Soooooo... It's my BIRTHDAY! Happy birthaversay, to me! 

And was... it... EVER. 

This was how my day started. I came to work to find my entire desk having been completely transformed into a castle of streamers, homemade confetti, silly string, balloons and cards.

birthday castle!

I love them. 

wall of cards!

birthday ninjas... they come at you just like regular ninjas...
.. but with cupcakes.



balloon tutu? yes please!

Needless to say, my birthday was amazing. My coworkers are truly amazing, thoughtful and generous people! I will be picking confetti out of the deepest crevices of my desk for weeks to come, I'm sure of it, but it was totally worth it. They... rock.

But it didn't end there. I met up with Rob and his roommate Mike, and the three of us headed out for some hibachi in Fairview to do some additional celebrating. I cannot complain... not one bit.

What an amazing birthday, from all of my amazing friends & family.
I am loved....and you guys are amazing.

xo | cmd

Dude, I Am... TIRED.

I am beyond the point of slap happy. I am somewhere in a new, previously undiscovered dimension of total exhaustion. Time seems elusive to me at this point, but I have to admit that in all of my sheer weariness, today was another great day.

Oh, and I'm far more descriptive at night. I learned this in college when I found myself repeatedly, at the fault of my own procrastination, left writing entire essays and term papers 5 hours before they were due in final draft. Mehhhh.

Anyway, I've sufficiently manage to distort my sleep schedule enough that my body has completely rejected any suggestion that we're doing okay. I've had a headache for most of the afternoon - the parts of it I spent awake, at least.

Let me start with this morning.

The closing ceremony for the 2012 Relay for Life happend around 7:00 AM this morning. We were a frazzled but enthusiastic lot; those of us from various teams that had braved the night hours and were still conscious at that time gathered together for the last remarks from Christine, Tracy & Steve, along with awards and the recognition signs for the top fundraising levels for each team. By the way, WAY TO GO, TOWERVIEW!!! $4878.75 [so far] earned us Silver Level this year. I'm bent on Gold for next year.. mark my words.. haha. :)

Sooo, anyhoot, while my husband did grace us with his presence for a significant portion of the event last night, he made it back home to get a decent night's sleep in the bed. After snagging at most an hour's worth of shut-eye on the ground in a sleeping bag at Relay, I was more than ready to have all noise come to a halt and do nothing but sleeeeeeeep.

Instead, I -- Well, actually, you can just see it for yourself:

welp.... 

So basically, I woke up post-nap to find my phone blinking incessantly with notifications on comments on this. I have nothing to say, other than that while it did happen, this was the dramatization, but it was worth every bit of it :)

I managed to pull myself together enough for a double date with Jimmy & Mo; I couldn't for the life of me tell you which hibachi restaurant hosted us for the evening, but I can say it's the first time I've been to one and had the table chef flip a whole egg off the table on accident. Haha. He was a good sport, and it was certainly a fluke. Silly as it was, its comical value was absolutely paled by the fact that Jimmy, Mo and I were giddy beyond control. It was our original intention to go and watch the new Batman movie after dinner, but by the time we were stuffed full of rice and ready to leave, we opted out for fear that Joe may be the only one left awake by the middle of the movie. As a substitute, we headed back to the house where Jimmy configured our Wii for Netflix, and rented Transformers instead. We're a daring bunch, I tell ya.

I must get some sleep tonight if I expect half a chance of proper functioning tomorrow.

See you at the Tower in the morning!

xo | cmd