But First, Olympic Trials

The Clues
I've said it before.  My husband is really good at giving gifts.

On Christmas morning on of my presents was decent sized gift wrapped box that was so light I thought it was empty.  I shook it and heard something rattling around inside, but what?  He didn't make it easy for me to figure it out.  I opened layers of boxes until I found a curious stack of cards with names on them.  Being the America's Next Top Model fan that I am, I immediately recognized each name as America's Next Top Model winners.  I had to put them in order from 1st ANTM winner to last ANTM winner, flip them over, and then use the pictured clues to discover my gift.  I'm bad at deciphering clues so it took me a while, to figure out that MJ had given me the most amazing gift ever.  Tickets to U.S. Olympic Trials.  Not just for me, but for my mom and my little sister.  It was so cute and thoughtful the way he put it all together.  He knows I love ANTM and gymnastics.


This weekend is bittersweet.  I leave for San Jose today to watch Olympic Trials for my favorite sport with my family.  I'm so so excited, but also sad because when I get back I don't know how much longer I have before MJ leaves.  He could be leaving (or not) any day now and I don't like missing out on whatever time we have left together.  I'm usually the one taking him to the airport so this is weird.  He was supposed to be gone a long time ago so I kind of don't even believe he's leaving.  How can I process it when he's been "leaving" since January and his travel plans are still up in the air as we speak?  I am beyond annoyed by this situation hanging over our heads, but this is how the military operates, and we have no control over any of it.  He knew he might not be able to go to trials with me so he set everything up to make sure that I would, and there aren't words to describe how much I love him for that.

In case you've been hiding under a rock the Olympic Games are next month.  There is a Zika virus alert in Brazil.  The venues are incomplete and they are still working on a much needed rail line to transport the hoards of people that will descend upon on Rio, but the lead up to Sochi was an even greater disaster, and I don't think an Olympic Games has ever been cancelled.  The selection process has begun, teams have been named, and adds have already started airing.  The show must go on.  I've included a few sappy promo clips to get you in the Olympic mood and I challenge you not to tear up.  All three of them got me. I also included an interesting documentary about Bela and Marta Karoly's ranch in Texas that has become the training center for the USA National Team.

I'm going to cry my eyes out when MJ leaves.  Then I'm going to cry my way through the Olympics, but first...Olympic Trials and a fun weekend with my family.  I'm probably be crying at trials too when they announce the team.  For the ones who make it and the ones who don't.  I'm just a big old emotional mess!! 

Look for me on TV.

NBC will carry live coverage of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials for women's gymnastics from 9-11 p.m. ET on July 8 & 10. It will be streamed live through NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Live Extra app.  It's on at 8 pm both nights in my neck of the woods-West Coast.












It's Tradition

Most of the bodies are concentrated in the food aisle at the top right
Work was a complete ghost town today.  I didn't get the memo about taking the day after The 4th of July off like everyone else, so I was one of the few butts in chairs at the office, and I was fighting sleep the minute I got there.  It was terrible.   I just wanted to be home with my husband!
I get this pizza every year.  It's tradition and so delicious.

We can handle the Ferris Wheel just fine

The Rents
It always goes way too fast, but you have to work with what you get so I made the most of that three day weekend. 

The highlight of the weekend was the fair.  At this point, it may be more about nostalgia than anything else, but I love the fair and even better when I get to go with mom and dad because I've been going to this very same fair with them since I was a baby. We don't even do much, but eat and walk around looking at exhibits but there is something about the fair that keeps me coming back every year.  This year we skipped the animals, and went on the Ferris Wheel.  That's about all any of us could handle.  My mom never liked them, but MJ and I have completely aged out of rides like Mach 1, Mega Drop and the Zipper.  My stomach sinks just thinking about riding those again, and I don't know how I ever did it before.  There were so many bodies crammed into this place.  1,609,481 guests total and 96,501 on the busiest day (July 3rd) made it to the fair this year.  That's A LOT of people.  Traffic getting in and out was terrible, but it was worth it for me.  The the weather was perfect and we had a really nice  day.   

One last breakfast out before they go
There never seems to be enough time.  My parents got here on Tuesday and left on Sunday morning.  We had the fair on Saturday, but I worked every other day throughout the week.  They used to live here and they have a walking addiction so they don't require much in the way of entertaining when they visit.  My mom makes sure to get the Wi-Fi password, and they get a house key to come and go as they please.  They disappear for hours at a time on long walks or visiting with friends.  My dad drinks no less than two gallons of milk, won't let us pay for anything, and is happy as a clam upstairs in their room watching YouTube on his tablet.  They buy food which we cram into the fridge, and they always leave something behind.  This time it was  plums, green onion, plus an extra gallon of milk.  I still don't know why mom bought green onions.  We hang out for whatever time I have left in the evenings after work and before bedtime.  We watch TV and movies on the weekends until nobody can keep their eyes open.  My mom likes to do laundry before they hit the road so we fold clothes together the night before they leave. 

I always tear up a little bit when I hug them good-bye, but we've got some fun things this year and I look forward to seeing them again soon.

Delaware is Different

Delaware is different.

For starters, it's very humid and rain breaks out sporadically out of nowhere even when it's hot.  I'm not used to that.   I did not see any of the big three; which I consider to be Applebee's, Chili's and TGI Friday's.  Not even a single Starbucks.  I think Dunkin' is the champ there.  On the drive from Milton to Gaithersburg we didn't hit an actual highway, for at least an hour.  It's mostly two lane roads with wheat fields and lots of trees on either side.  The fields stretch out as far as the eye can see, dotted with barns, horses, goats, and homes that seem to sprout out of nowhere...in the middle of nowhere.   Curious deer on the side of the road poke around the bushes oblivious to the cars zooming past and the pitch black night sky is pierced by lighting bugs you would miss altogether if you don't know what they are.  "Is this really it?  Is this where you grew up?" I asked MJ trying to wrap my head around it, because there is just nothing there and it's so different than where I grew up.  "Yes,"  he replied.  "You can see why I was so anxious to get out."  

Yes, Delaware is different than what I'm used to, but we made the best of it.  Wilmington and Dover are Delaware's largest cities, but we spent most of our time in a small town I'd never heard of called Milton. These are the highlights and a nice list of things to do should you ever find yourself in Delaware.
  • We went directly from a red eye flight to Cracker Barrel where we ate what we consider to be the best pancakes ever.   This may not be the biggest deal to some, but sadly, California does not have one so we never ever miss an opportunity to eat there when we travel.  It has to be pancakes.  I ordered french toast once and was very disappointed.  I hear they serve lunch and dinner, but all I want is the pancakes. 

  • Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton offers free beer tasting, which is a first for me.  You get four pours, which is pretty nice.  There is outdoor seating at giant wood community picnic tables, bocce ball (but with frisbees which I'd never seen before), and a food truck with limited food offerings.  The atmosphere was lively and they had a really cool tree house out front.
  • I ate a delicious build your own salad at this cute little place called The Back Yard, in Milton.  Normally I have to make substitutions or pick something out, but my salad was just the way I like it and so good.  If you order a bottle of wine there and don't finish it they let you take it home.  We did not order a bottle of wine or take advantage of the happy hour but I thought both were pretty cool deals.  
  • MJ's dad took us to a great spot for breakfast called The Southern Grill of Ellendale.  It's seat yourself, and it took us a long time to get served, but the waitress apologized, the food came fast, and it was delicious.  There were lots of options for putting together the perfect breakfast; whatever that is for you.  I had the 2 french toast, 2 egg (whites), 2 sausage meal.

  • Spence's Bazaar in Dover is worth a visit, but not for the bazaar.  The bazaar was mostly junk, and I knew that because we went the last time I was there.  We checked it out just for kicks, but as expected I didn't see anything that I imagine people actually would want to buy, but one man's trash is another man's treasure and all that.  The draw for this place is the Amish Market.  The smells coming from that place were delicious.  We made the mistake of going there right after breakfast (again).  I wanted to eat more than one hot doughnut, but I was stuffed.  It's best to go hungry because they have all kinds of food.  Cookies, cakes, brownies, pies, pizza, chicken wings, sandwiches, meats and more.  All made and served by Amish people in their traditional Amish garb.  We took home a Chocolate Peanut Butter cake that was to die for.  So, so good.

A photo posted by Cece (@mahoganydrive) on
  • Tax Free shopping came in handy.  I've been on the hunt for polarized sunglasses.  Why is it that when you finally spring for "expensive" glasses they get scratched, and yet the cheapies are still kicking?  I'd tried a pair from Amazon that I hated on my face, so I figured, why not buy some in Delaware where I can get it tax free?  We hit up the Sunglasses Hut at Tanger Outlets in Rehobeth.  Plastic frames are so so cute and I'm drawn to them, but really hate the oversized look on my face.  I never would have considered metal framed aviator style Ray Ban's, but I put them on and...sold!  Love them.  
  • Most important, was the reason that brought us out there in the first place.  Family. Why else would anyone else visit Delaware?  I know, I'm such a snob.  His family on his mom's side gets together every other year for a reunion.  The last time I was in Delaware was for the 2013 reunion so it's been awhile.  Killen's Pond State Park in Felton is really beautiful.  There is boating, nature trails, and a water park.  We didn't get to spend much time with his mom, due to a travel error.  In MJ's head we were staying until Tuesday, but our flight home was scheduled on Monday morning and I didn't make the connection until Sunday night.  Oops.  But, I got to meet most of his siblings for the first time so that was cool.
We spent one day with friends in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  Their house is spacious, on something like three acres, and they have a basement.  A basement!!  They have chickens and a good sized garden.  I don't want either, although MJ does want the garden.  Every time I'm on the east coast I think about how screwed we are living in So Cal with the high cost of living.  You get so much bang for your buck elsewhere.  I think, lot's of people are very happy back east, perhaps we could be too and reap the benefits of a lower cost of living.  Then I see a random toad in the driveway that I would have died if I'd stepped on, think about the weird jumping spiders we saw at Killen's Pond, and the harsh cold winters.  I just don't think I can do snow.  Also, I don't even have allergies and there was this awful tickle in my nose almost the whole time we were there.

We will probably never have the privacy that you get with a lot of land or the square footage.  No Cracker Barrel either, but I don't think I can bear to part with So Cal.  For now, it's worth it.

Why Suffer When You Don't Have To?

On Sunday I brought our laundry downstairs to the living room for folding, because I would have broken out in a sweat doing it upstairs.  I couldn't deal with the last load so I left it sitting in the basket.  I ran the blow dryer on my hair for exactly two seconds before realizing what a stupid idea that was because our air conditioning broke just in time for the hottest weekend of the year. San Diego county broke high temp records everywhere and there we were, putting off bedtime as long as possible because downstairs wasn't terrible, but upstairs was a sauna.  Laying there spread eagle in bed listening to the hum of the tower fan and feeling it's lukewarm air blow across my body brought back memories of the old days when I lived alone in a studio apartment.  Right now our only choice is to deal with the heat, but it reminded me of the days when I had a choice, and chose to suffer anyway.


It feels like a lifetime ago.  It was a lifetime ago.  I was living alone for the first time ever and newly single.  Street parking was tight, there was a shared laundry room that took quarters only, and no storage to speak of, but my little apartment was so cute.  I was proud that I did it on my own and living alone was pretty neat. 

Like a lot of places, there was no central air.  It had a wall AC unit, but it was sufficient for cooling the whole place since the whole place was essentially the size of a room.  I was on the upper floor, so when it was hot, it was hot and there was no escape.  I don't know how I sat there sweltering, when I could have had relief with the flick of a switch.  The tower fan would have to do, because the wall unit was to be used ONLY while I worked out, and sometimes not even then depending on just how hot it was.  Those were the rules.  I went to bed in stifling heat some nights and woke up to damp sheets.  During the day I holed up in the library or went to the mall when it got too bad.  I took two showers a day because just breathing was enough to make me sweat, but upon pain of death I would not touch that wall unit.

Those were the rules.

And so many rules there were back then because life demanded it.  I could only buy clothing if I absolutely needed it and only from Walmart or Target.  I wasn't allowed to eat after six.  To cut down on gas I couldn't go too far from home most weekends and stops at 7-11 for 99 cent coffee was only allowed once a week. 

Those were the rules because money was tight and discipline of utmost importance. 

Diet soda was allowed daily.   I had one every day with "dinner" to help me feel full.  If you could even call it that.  Three slices of thinly sliced lunch meat ham, slapped between two slices of bread, a 2% Kraft Single, and the thinnest layer of mustard was the main dish with a side of exactly one serving of pretzel sticks.  I counted.  The cans were rinsed and stored in the dishwasher and taken to the recycling center monthly where I would receive my CRV in the form of a grocery store credit at Ralph's next door.  I parked in between the two, so I could haul my cans to the recycling center and then walk to the grocery store where I would painstakingly select each item after carefully scrutinizing the nutritional information.

The thing about it, is that my electric bill was so cheap.  I still don't know how it was so cheap, but it was only about $35.00 per month.  Allowing myself some relief and turning on the wall unit every now and then would have made me much more comfortable, and how high could my bill really get?  Not very high, as I would find out later, but I was too caught up in my own suffering and sadness to find out.  Everything had to be controlled to the maximum level possible.  I didn't allow myself to splurge.  Ever.  On anything.  I embraced hunger, the stifling heat and all the things about my life that was difficult without resistance, but it wasn't just about the money.  It was proving to myself what I had already come to accept at that time.  Life is hard and I wasn't meant to be happy.     
   
Then I met my husband.
 
I lived there for five years.  He lived in that little studio with me for the last six months of it, and you better believe that when it got hot he didn't hesitate for a second to turn that thing on.  He couldn't understand my logic.  Why suffer, when you don't have to?  I mean, if you have no choice that is one thing, but when you have a choice, why not choose comfort?  It's usually worth it.  Space was limited and sometimes the clutter made me cranky, but it wasn't just me against the world anymore, and that cold air circulating through the studio felt like a small miracle.  It was pure magic, and my oven which still pristine after five years of very little action was finally getting put to good use.  The girl who didn't want to eat had fallen in love with a foodie.

When we moved into our house I tried to make us both suffer.  Our expenses were high that year between the new house and the wedding.  Old habits die hard.  "We're fine," I'd say.  "It's not that hot," because I was used to sacrificing comfort to save a dime, but MJ wasn't having it.  He went crazy cranking up the AC at just the slightest hint of warm weather, and I went along with it until we got the bill.  I taught him the value of a savings account and he taught me to live a little. I gave in a bit, so did he, and we've found a pretty nice balance over the years. 

I shake my head sometimes thinking about how my life has changed since then.  All for the better, and I am so thankful.  We own a home with central air, we take trips, I don't think twice about stopping at 7-11 for coffee, and I have an Amazon addiction.  My meals are nutritionally balanced, I have an awesome husband, and I no longer look for any excuse to martyr myself.  I'm happy.

Why suffer when you don't have to?  The answer is, you shouldn't.  Air cooling is a wonderful invention.  I am truly humbled after being without it for six hot days and can't wait for it to be fixed next week. 

Disclaimer:  This post was brought to you by our broken air conditioning unit and the wonder that is air cooling, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mysteries of Instagram

I discovered Snap Chat last year, and it's been fun, but out of all the social media outlets Instagram is still my favorite.  I enjoy the ease of interaction and it's also been really helpful to me on my fitness journey.  I joined a great fitness challenge, find inspiration, and discovered a protein powder I love.  It has also gotten me to buy clothes, but we won't talk specifics on that.  I originally just had one with my super secret blog handle, and now that they finally made it easier to toggle between accounts I made a personal one so I could follow friends and family.  It truly is like a time capsule of your life.   Sometimes I fall down the rabbit hole of my own posts just because it's fun to look back on old times.

I have always loved taking pictures, so sometimes I do try for the perfect staged Instagram shot.  I utilize filters.  I take way too many pictures of food and other things that may or may not get posted, but mainly I try to capture the moment.  I am just a regular old run of the mill Instagram user so there are some things I don't understand. 

A photo posted by Cece (@mahoganydrive) on
Are there really people out there who get to spend their entire lives traveling the world on a perpetual vacation?  Like how?  I wanna do that!!

How do some people post their first post one day and then have over 500 followers in a day?  Like how? They have to be buying followers right, but how does that even work?  Who are these people with gain 100 followers instantly in their bio and how did they get into the business of selling followers?  Third question.  Why is it that important?  Especially if you are not a business.  Who are you and why do you need 10k followers?

I get it, people love talented all star cheerleaders and dancers, but how do people get so many followers when they are not celebrity/professional athlete/singer songwriter/public figure type?  Some of them have more followers than Misty Copeland.  Who are they and why are they so interesting? 

What is up with those Insta accounts that have two posts and thousands of followers?  They don't post.  What exactly are you following? 

What is up with those Insta accounts that have four sexy pics and "I need a man for meetings...I'll way for you" in the profile?  What are the logistics of that? Are the pics fakes? Did match.com not work out?  What does she really want and why is she following me? 

How do people get so many selfies and videos at the gym? Personally, I find selfie taking in public kind of embarrassing.  I sneak them in every now and then, but I won't do it if anyone is around!

How do the fitspo girls learn to pose like that?  I get it.  Booty gains is really in right now, and the contortions put it on full display, but try as I might I cannot get my back and waist to contort without looking like I've turned into a statue and stopped breathing.  Mind you, I used to be a gymnast.

Why do people post porn on Instagram?  I found out the hard way while innocently searching hashtag #snapchat.

A photo posted by Cece (@mahoganydrive) on


Do people have personal photographers follow them around taking pictures?  They must!  I'm mostly reduced to selfies and candid shots are very few and far between...like maybe when I'm on vacation.

I realize there is this whole thing about having a theme for your Instagram, but how can someone maintain that for years and years on end?  I scrolled an Instagram account back to August 2015 just out of curiosity and aside from food and denim there were literally seven pictures that featured color outside of black, grey or white but the monochromatic theme, went back much further than that. Are those the only colors that you wear?  Do you systematically refrain from posting Instagram pics while you are wearing vibrant colors?  Themed Instagrams are pretty to look at, but it must take a lot of the Insta out of Instagram and it seems like a lot of work to keep it. 

What is this obsession with white white fur rugs and all white sheets?  I can't help but notice that the flowers, coffee, aviator sunglasses combo is very popular atop white rugs and in the passenger side seats of cars.  Do they really like Starbucks and fresh flowers that much or is it just for Instagram?

Why are so many Instagram accounts starting to look alike? See above.

Why is the list of hashtags on some posts a mile long and sometimes include hashtags that have nothing to do with the picture?  

Why post one picture in a collage of two or three pictures that are exactly the same.  I look for a difference, but nope.  The same exact picture.  

Lastly, how do people always manage to find a perfect brick wall (bonus if it's covered in really cool graffiti) to pose in front of.  I haven't seen any and if I did, I wouldn't have anyone to take a picture of me standing wistully in front of it!

Okay.  I think that covers it.  I have much to learn.

This is What Relaxation Looks Like

We had such a good time in Temecula that I knew we'd be back.  I just didn't realize how soon.  Two weeks after our first stay MJ was like, I wanna go back, and I was like me too and that is how we found ourselves back at South Coast Winery just a month later.  It was like deja vu except this time we stayed for two nights and I already knew just how much fun it was going to be.

I think we have a winery addiction.

The place 'aint cheap so we went with a Thursday to Saturday stay and enjoyed a four day weekend.  Well, technically 3 1/2 day weekend for me since I insisted on working a half day on Thursday.



It was hot.  So hot!  It's been gloomy in So Cal, but it warmed up significantly making Friday one of the most perfect pool days ever.  It got up to 98 degrees while we were out there.  I don't know how people sit in the sun for hours without cover, but I am not a rotisserie chicken, so an umbrella is absolutely mandatory. When you have cover you're set.  We stayed there for hours taking a dip when it got too hot, and relaxing.  We subsisted on wine, cheese, grapes, and salami during the day.  We drank our complimentary bottle of wine at the pool, and then did a tasting at Ponte Winery next door.  Our favorite wine from there is Late Harvest.  It's a red, but so sweet you can taste the berries.  MJ bought two bottles when we were there last time.  We finally ate some real food at the South Coast Winery Rose Restaurant that night.


 



We most definitely will make it to Napa eventually, but until then Temecula will do nicely.  The grounds are quiet, and serene, but the mood is festive and fun.  There really isn't that much to do at a winery except drink, eat and relax.  I have no problem with that.