TGIT, Labor Day Weekend and the Ten Day Challenge

All I am going to say is TGIT. It's so nice to have a Monday off and start the week one more day closer to Friday, isn't it?

I had a wonderful weekend up in NJ but right now I feel wiped out. I slept fine last night and all, I think maybe just the rain and gray are making me feel sleepy this morning. Oh, and the lack of caffeine. I usually have at least one cup of coffee in the morning while I am getting ready for work. TWO if feels like it might be one of those kinds of days. But that's when I am at home and I have my wonderful Keurig coffee maker (AKA, one of the best damn things I ever bought.) When I stay at MVP's house, I start my day sans-Kcup coffee. And I think it may be starting to take it's toll one me.

I think lack of caffeine also makes me prone to go off on tangents.....so getting this post back on track. Weekend was really great. Got up and out on the road bright an early on Saturday morning. Managed to sneak in about 5 or 6 total Wawa stops during the 3 day trip, which in and of itself would make the weekend wildly successful in my book. Went out to dinner on Saturday night at a restaurant that I used to go to all the time growing up. Took a drive to Atlantic City on Sunday where my AC Lucky Streak officially came to an end. I usually win $50 or $60 bucks playing my fave, penny slots. I ended up winning nothing and didn't break even. MVP managed to win $100 at the blackjack table though. I'm thinking he must have stolen my lucky AC mojo or something. As we were leaving AC for the day, my mom said to me, "It makes me sad that that $60 bucks I spent playing slots could have been put towards buying a new purse." Any doubts about me being my mother's daughter were completely squelched by that comment.

MVP enjoyed meeting my Pop-Pop (as I had a hunch he would) and I think the feeling was mutual. As we were leaving, my Pop-Pop told him he could come back any time and he didn't even need to bring me with him. No, I am not even making that up for comedic effect. I kind of felt like my Dad has a bit of a thing for MVP too...I think he enjoys having someone new to talk Phillies with and tell jokes too. Forgive me for being a little sappy for a moment, but I can't even describe how happy it makes me to see MVP get along so well with my family. Everything feels so comfortable and relaxed...and I feel really, really lucky.

Ok, that's way too much mush for me, let's get on to the next item in the Ten Day Challenge, shall we?

Nine Loves
•1• Baking. It relaxes me, relieves stress, allows me to be creative. I only wish I had a kitchen big enough for all of my wildest baking dreams!

•2• Presents. I absolutely adore shopping for presents for other people and giving gifts.

•3• Matching pajamas. It's such a lame thing to admit, but I am a sucker for a snazzy set of matching pajamas. Even lamer to admit that I have my collection actually hanging on hangers in my closet.

•4• Being down the shore. I realized this weekend how very happy being down the shore makes me. It reminds me of all the summers I spent there growing up and how lucky I was to have all that time with my Gram and Pop-Pop. And I also noticed how relaxed and peaceful I felt there. I really wish I could live by the beach all year round.

•5• Writing. I wrote a LOT when I was little and it was a wonderful outlet for my creativity. Now having this little space on the internet to call my own has given me a place to rekindle that need to be creative. But more than that, it has given me the opportunity to vent, talk about my fears and frustrations, be honest, and, above all, make connections with people. It came about at a time in my life where I was feeling really disconnected and helped me discover my own little online tribe. And I love that so many other people out there are fearless in sharing their stories - funny, heartbreaking and everything in between.

•6• Monograms. I can't give you the rhyme or reason behind it, but OH how I love a good monogram. I put them every place possible and don't care who teases me for it. So yes, that is a monogram on my car, my iPhone, my ring, my Tervis Tumbler. It makes me happy, so suck it.

•7• Movies. I absolutely love going to the movies. I love being in that dark theater and forgetting about everything else that's going on for 90-120 minutes. On a rainy/gray day like today, I honestly wish I could have called out sick from work and spent the whole day at the movies. It's like my church/therapy/happy place all rolled into one.

•8• Cheese. Sorry, but I think I would eat just about anything if you slapped some cheese on it. I know my cholesterol and waistline would be better off if I went with out it. Sometimes I know I shouldn't indulge, but when I see some cheese...well I have a little Brokeback moment where I wish I knew how to quit cheese. Too much? Sorry y'all....just keeping it real here.

•9• My Phillies. Though the good, the bad, and the '93 Mullets. I love them. I always have and I always will.