What the????

I took a week off of work last month. It’s the first time in five years that I did that. Usually my “vacation” consists of a week of working 8-noon and spending my afternoons at the pool or out shopping with my kids. This year, I decided that no matter what the consequences, I needed an actual vacation from work. Big mistake. Huge. Did you notice that I hadn’t posted anything in a month?? Well, that’s because today is the first time since that week off that I haven’t been swamped playing catch up.

The first two weeks back to work, I clocked 100 hours. Then the next two weeks are on pace to come in at just slightly under 90 hours. All of that relaxation and decompression was negated by the hell that was waiting for me when I got back to the office. Working and stressing over work led to exhausted evenings and barely weekends. Today I can finally say “I’m caught up.”

In fleeting moments of downtime the past month, I’ve thought of several things I’d love to write about. Unfortunately I just haven’t had the time or energy just yet. There are a few of you who took the time to read and comment every time I posted, and you encouraged me to keep writing. I will, I need to. In the meantime, here’s a few completely random thoughts that have popped into my overloaded brain.

Drive-in concerts. Let’s start here. There are two phenomena in this crazy concept. Carloads of people paying to watch a video of a concert and carloads of people paying to watch an actual live show from their cars. Both of theses are absurd to me. Now I love Garth Brooks and Metallica as much as the next person, but I cannot justify spending upwards of $100 to sit in MY OWN CAR and watch a video of a concert I’m not actually attending. Then there’s the live shows. My sister and I got excited when we heard that Smith & Myers would be at the drive-in next month. That excitement quickly dissipated when we found out tickets were anywhere from $165-$350 a carload. For those of you who don’t know, Smith & Myers are two of the four members of Shinedown. Remember how much we love Shinedown? 🖤💛 Well, we won’t be going to see the duo at the drive-in. Why? Because we’ve never paid that much to see the whole band LIVE & IN PERSON from not more than 20 yards away! In the middle of a pandemic, with times as tight as they are for many of us, I cannot justify spending that much to sit in my car, potentially over 100 yards away, and I’m not even allowed to bring my own snacks? Ugh.

The cancellation of outdoor fall festivals. Maybe I’m insane, but wouldn’t it be safer to attend and socially distance at an outdoor festival than it is to shop at Walmart? COVID isn’t a threat at the grocery store, but it is at the Pumpkin Festival? Sorry folks, I don’t see the logic here. We’re screaming “save the economy” and then shutting down the things that are critical for the survival of members of our communities. Many of these festivals are the biggest and sometimes the only fundraisers for thing like volunteer fire departments and historical societies. Maybe space the booths out a little more. People who feel unsafe in such an environment don’t have to attend. Those of us who trust in our immune systems and our own ability to be responsible for our well-being can attend and participate to our own comfort level.

“Alexander Hamilton. My name is Alexander Hamilton.” It’s not, of course, but this pops into my head at least seven times a day. Well, that and “I’m just like my country, I’m young, scrappy, and hungry!” Disney+ decided that we all needed the opportunity to see Hamilton for ourselves. Phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. If you haven’t seen it, you truly are missing out. Even if you aren’t a fan of musicals, or history, or hip hop…you just might love this as much as I do. At the very least, everyone NEEDS to witness the spectacular performance by Jonathan Groff as King George. But truthfully, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the most entertaining, captivating, energetic, historic musical.

Did the picture make you think this was gonna be something political? Sorry to disappoint, but I have absolutely no desire to debate with anyone. I’m too tired for that.

Baseball. My daughter and I got to attend a couple games this year. We even got to reconnect with our favorite player from several years back. We were having fun being back at what was once our summer home. Too bad it ended so abruptly. Gone too soon.

Hockey. As the Hockeybabe, I’m embarrassed to say I saw very little Pittsburgh Penguins hockey this year. Again, gone too soon.

Football. Here we go, Steelers! As excited as I am for football season, I really just want the snacks. I’m craving a big platter of fried mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, breaded mushrooms, wings, and nachos. Oh, and chili. I just need a bowl of mom’s chili.

MY DAUGHTER GOT HER LICENSE!!! I’ve got mixed feelings on this one. It makes me even more aware that my babies aren’t babies anymore. It also allows me to send her out to run errands while I stay at home, curled up on the couch with my favorite blanket.

Margaritas. I could really go for some frosty, delicious margaritas right now. Stupid work, always getting in the way. Is it 5:00 yet???