Just to balance things out

When I post Hawaii pictures of next week's trip, you'll likely be able to see what I've been working on this week--namely, the quadruple-headed weather-pattern-altering zit that's currently gestating on my chin.

I can feel it. It's there.

I fully expect the thing to emerge during the airplane ride to Kauai, just in time for pictures. It will likely cause the rain to follow us everywhere we go (sorry Dad!) and the touring helicopter to crash into the Na Pali coastline. Except up until my untimely death, I will be stuffing my face with chocolate-filled malasadas and enjoying the color green and the feeling of warmth on my skin and island breezes through my hair. Totally worth it.

If I stay here I'll just have to take the thing to work with me so that children and the mentally ill can remark on it.

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And that, friends, is what we call compromise

My parents are going to Kauai in 10 days, to the same place we went two years ago. They invited GH and me to come stay with them, way back when they first decided to go. And I said (squealed) yes and saved the money to buy plane tickets. But it eventually became apparent that GH would not be able to get the time off work, and we had to bail out. I told myself I would be fine, but then this IM conversation with my dad happened 3 days ago.

Dad: So what's up with you?

me: Nadda lot. Am making plans for a fun March. If I can make it through March I might not kill anybody. February looks okay so far.

Dad: My Feb is about to get A LOT better. 2 weeks baby.

me: . . . . yeah. I can't actually think about that. Because I'm about 30 minutes from just booking myself a ticket anyway. At which point [GH] will run out and buy himself a new TV. So, you know, that's where we would end up.

Dad: Understandable, but you end up winning twice; him only once.

me: Good point. Maybe I SHOULD just do it . . . So what are you guys going to do once you get there?

Dad: Are you kidding?

me: I want to visualize it. Costco trip? Steaks & shrimp?

Dad: LAY ON THE BEACH!

me: No, like step by step. Check in, head to the beach, watch the sun set while the whales frolick . . .

Dad: DO A HELICOPTER ISLAND TOUR. EAT WONDERFUL FOOD. BE WARM.

Dad: NOT SHOVEL SNOW.

me: Ice cream at Lappert's, starry skies . . .

Dad: YES, YES, YES.

me: Sigh . . . . yeah. It's going to be amazing.

Dad: There is that potential. Yes.

me: Sigh. You'll have to tell me which ice creams you eat. And how many whales you see. And if Kee beach is still great.

Dad: If?

me: And how the helicoptor tour is.

Dad: You can still come you know.

me: WAH!!!!! sniffle sob

Aaaaand the next morning I booked a ticket.

GH and I talked it over first, and it turns out that he is quite fine with me going on vacation without him. The part where he gets to spend his plane ticket money on a schmancy new TV sweetened the deal, I think. At first I wondered if this makes me some sort of brat for ditching my husband to go get spoiled by my parents. But the more I think about it the more I realize that this actually is a win-win, since GH and I both get the thing that we really, really want the most. (And it's also my version of win-win, wherein I do kind of win twice.)

Oh, malasadas? Your lover is coming to you.

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Am practically Julia Child

Yes, this was my dinner. It's a hot dog (Oscar Meyer 100% beef, thank you) slathered in canned Western Family chilli and shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese.


Only see what's underneath it? Instead of a hot dog bun I used a slice of bread containing six grams of dietary fiber.

That is what is called Making Healthy Choices.

Anyone care to share some of the "healthy" choices you've been making lately?

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