this and that...

The Sandy 15….

That’s what I heard it called on z100 this morning. The Sandy 15….like the Freshman 15 I guess only more tragic. At least I’m not alone, at least I know that there is just something about a natural disaster that makes all self control fly right out the window and almost every last one of us dive head first into a bag of enchilada flavored Doritos…..

Oh wait….the Doritos incident was yesterday…..the storm was last Monday….what’s that you say? I have no more excuses? Omg I cannot be stopped. I am so disgusting. What is my problem? Seriously. All motivation is gone. I think the hibernation effect produced by not having electricity for 5 days combined with the time change, the cold weather and imminent long, frigid winter has turned me into the ultimate sloth….I’d like to say I’m ok with it…like hey, what’s a few bags of cheetos and a case of wine on this long road we call life? It’s winter after all! As members of the animal kingdom, it would be unnatural for us humans not to pack on a few more pounds when winter is approaching in the name of insulation….I mean won’t I be glad I wolfed down that whole melting pint of haagen dazs in one fell swoop in the event that we are struck by the next Ice Age this year….or something? Did somebody say my point is not valid because of global warming? Shut up, Al Gore. Pass me a spoon.

I lost 10 lbs on that soup diet I did a few weeks ago and I felt AWESOME the entire time….I felt like I could take on the world…energetic, healthy, positive, inspired….and then the shit hit the fan and….well…..this is a cry for help.

I can’t blame it on Sandy anymore, I have to get off my ever expanding ass, get back on the soup diet, get back in the gym (the little voice in my head says "But now? Why now?? It's almost thanksgiving for crying out loud! And Veteran's Day is in 6 days! That is traditionally a big eating holiday, no? What about Christmas????? My girl Ree will be so upset if I don't make her cinnamon rolls (and eat half a pan mysef)...") ...

Death to the little voice, I say. I feel like a turd.

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Hey!!! Does anybody know about any super fun holiday blog swaps going on this year? If you do, please leave me some suggestions in the comments! I had so much fun last year doing Raven & Lindsey's's Glitz Who Stole Christmas swap, I'd love to do some more this year! So far, I am signed up for a super fun ornament swap hosted by Erin & Jessah but I'd love to do a couple more. point me in the right direction, ladies!

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Did you vote? I did. I was out there at 6 freakin' 15 in the morning with the fate of this free nation resting squarely on my shoulders (drama.). I live in a blue state, so chances are pretty good that whether I dragged my ass out of bed with the birds this morning and went to vote or not, New York will go blue, and I'm stoked about that. Still, especially in this election where everything seems to be so running so close, I felt it was even more important than ever just to make sure my small, whispering voice was heard. There are some very important issues hanging in the balance this year folks and the candidates could not have more differing views on these issues. Go vote. But only if you're voting for my guy....KIDDING. I'm just kidding. Relax.....vote regardless. It's more important than ever.

In related news, am I the only one who feels like they have to get to the polls as early as possible in order to make their vote "count"? I know that's stupid, but my husband was all "why don't you just go vote when you get home later instead of getting up at 6am like a mental patient?" and I was all "no. what is the point of voting when half the precincts already reported and the state has already been called?"....am I right or am I right? I mean, I know i'm not technically right. even the votes that come in at 8:59pm have to count, but....oh whatever ok? I never claimed to make sense.

I would like to make one small complaint about my polling place though....no stickers?? Come on people. What's up with that? We all know the only reason I vote is to get the sticker.

thankful...

It seems apropos, in the wake of Sandy, to begin the month of November with a few words on things for which I am thankful. We are on day 5 with no power, no hot water, but we were fortunate enough to get one of the last generators at Lowe’s on Monday morning. Being able to watch the news and see the devastation this storm caused our area is sobering to say the least.

(photos by our friend Jennie of the marina where their boat was docked.)

(the house directly behind ours across the street.)

We have a roof on our house, no water damage, our gas tanks are full and everyone is safe and well. That is so much more than can be said about so many. We’ve been out to dinner at the same restaurant for the last 3 nights in a row; bellies full of hot, yummy food and cold, yummy beer don’t leave me with much to complain about when you consider how many of our neighbors are lined up right now at shelters just trying to get a hot meal.

Ben slept peacefully last night, curled up next to me, snug as a bug under 3 soft, squishy blankets….there’s a mother out there who had to sleep last night with the news that they found the bodies of her two babies that were washed away in the storm surge when she was trying to protect them by putting them on the roof of her car. The magnitude of this catastrophe is unfathomable to me as I sit safe and sound in my dark house, curled up under a blanket with my baby, reading books by candle light, eating Halloween candy and killing a bottle of Kettle with my husband because what else do you do during hurricanes but drink and eat non-perishables?

Well, you count your blessings.

Today, I am thankful.