Off to an EGGselent Start

Forgive me blogosphere, for I have sinned - it has been 10 days since my last post.  In my umpteen years of blogging, I don't even remember the last time I went that long -- rest assured, nothing is WRONG, I just haven't had much to say.

I had a cold.
Work was stressful.
I hit a major milestone on aforementioned stressful work project.
I took the day off.
I cleaned the house (with some help from a cleaning service), grocery shopped, did laundry, had lunch with a friend, and walked on the treadmill with my day off.

The Hubs has my cold from last week, and I've been battling a sinus headache for the past few days.  Needless to say, I haven't felt like doing much - so thankfully we didn't have much going on this weekend.  I took a Nyquil gelcap last night, hoping to clear my sinuses, slept like the dead and now am trying to caffeinate my way out of a nyquil hangover. 

Sigh.

BUT - I've been productive.
Got a pot roast prepped and into the crockpot.
Made quinoa chicken salad and packed 4 days worth of lunches.
Prepped dinner for tomorrow.
And in a moment, as soon as the caffeine and excedrin kick in, it's down to the treadmill I go.

This morning I made eggs for breakfast, something I haven't had in a long long time. Just a simple lone egg, scrambled with some milk and feta, and stuffed into half of a whole grain pocket bread.  It was delicious - and satisfying - and I remember why I like eggs for breakfast.  They start me off on the right foot.

I just calculated that in order to meet my monthly treadmill goal, I will have to spend 75 minutes per day on there for these last few days of the month -- which, frankly, isn't going to happen.  But I can get on there today and tomorrow, and know that I made an honest effort!

On that note - I'm going to channel the mantra "burn energy to make energy," head down to the basement, and hit the treadmill to wake myself up out of this nyquil coma!

Off and running,
~Jessica

She's Just Not That Into You

Well hello poor little neglected blog - I realize I haven't paid you a visit in quite some time, and there's a good reason for that -- to quote Miranda from Sex and the City, "I can sum up my life in 5 words - work, work, au bon pain, work." 

(Sub "quinoa chicken salad" for "au bon pain" and you've got it about right.)

I've been feeling a bit under the weather for the past week, so needless to say, I really wasn't that into the idea of working out.  But tonight, once dinner was in the oven, I finally stopped the insanity and got on the treadmill for a nice long walk -- and it felt great to sweat out some of the toxins.

So while I haven't done the best at working out, here's what I HAVE done a great job of - eating!  On Saturday, I had possibly the most expensive trip to the grocery store of my life, which resulted in the following meals this week:

Quinoa chicken salad for lunch every day.
Beef pot roast for two dinners (it was even better as leftovers)
Meatloaf.
Baked chicken enchiladas
Easy chicken parmesan
...and in the cupboard and fridge, the ingredients for chicken wild rice casserole.

And in the freezer ? 4 little home made chicken pot pies, and another pan of enchiladas. 

For lack of anything super exciting to say, and in honor of my 4 month wedding anniversary, all the jerks I dated before I met The Hubs, and the ridiculous stories I keep hearing from my single female friends,I want to share this link with you that a friend of mine posted on FB. 

You Did Not Thank Me For Punching You In The Face.

From here on out, can we as women all agree that we'll stop teaching young boys that the appropriate way to show somebody you "like" them is to treat them badly?  And can we PLEASE stop telling girls that being treated badly is an act of AFFECTION?  This doesn't do anybody any favors, folks -- not only does it set women up for a lifetime of excuse-making and bad-behavior-justification for the men in their lives, but it teaches little boys that they way to communicate emotion is through the negative, not the positive. I could have saved myself a lot of heartache over the years if I hadn't gone back to the figurative pigtail pulling and thought, "Wow, he must REALLY like me."  I realize that I'm totally arm-chair parenting here, but I hope to God people aren't still selling that line to little girls, and I know that someday when I have kids, I definitely won't.

If I hear one more woman say something like "well, you see, he really likes me, but he's (scared/confused/hurt/stressed/busy/scared), so he's acting out," I will scream.

Stop analyzing him.  React only to how he acts.  Would you let your girlfriends get away with treating you that way?  No.  And I guarantee he's not sitting at home analyzing why YOU acted the way you did.

~off soapbox~

Off and running,
~Jessica

Home Is Where Your Story Begins

Yesterday a tenant moved into my house - they've signed a two year lease -- a young guy, transfered here from Washington DC.  In April his girlfriend will join him.  Although I'm thrilled for financial reasons, it is weird to think about somebody living in MY house. 

Over the past 6 months since we were engaged, I've had mixed emotions about the house - sadness at leaving it, confusion over whether to sell or rent, but mostly joy about moving on with life, and moving wherever The Hubs is. 

Because THAT is where my home is.

But it is no secret how much I've adored this little house in the city.

A big thank you to my parents who supported the purchase, both financially and emotionally...

For the neighbors that not only put up with years of shenannigans from the ex boyfriend from hell, but ended up being great friends....

To the electricians, plumbers, contractors, landscapers that have helped me out over the years...To the property management company that found this great tenant...
And the friends who filled it with laughter, love, and memories.
To the house itself - thank you for always being my home; during both the best and bleakest times of my last 8 years; for being a place I always looked forward to returning.  For being a solid roof and a warm bed; a savory oven and a cozy living room. 

Home is truly where my story begins - and continues - now, with a new address.

Off and running,
~Jessica