40 in 40 - Day 17 / Pet Lore

 

I remember my dad coming to pick me up on one of his weekends in 1996 with my cousin, Nikki, and a super cute German Shepard puppy. Nikki and I walked him around my mom's front yard before we all made the long drive back to Geneva. Condor wasn't "my" dog but the family's dog. He let my little brother climb all over him. My dad took him to serious training where he learned verbal commands and hand signals. He's probably the most disciplined dog I've ever known. I loved when he would lay next to my bed on the weekends I was there. He would follow me and Nikki around as we walked back and forth to my house and to hers. He loved us all and he was loved by all. 

Dustin got Spike when he was six. This bud lived 16 years, therefore I got to spend the last two years with him. The lore of Spike ran deep and we still talk about him to this day. The time Dustin saw him jump out of a box at Christmas. The time he ran away and went swimming in a hotel pool when Dustin lived in the B-section. Or the time Dustin engineered some sort of bungee situation that resembled one of those doorway baby bouncers - all so he didn't have to put weight on his injured hip. He barked every time someone knocked and immediately stopped when you'd walk inside. He'd welcome me with his hot ass breath every weekend I'd spend in Palm Coast. He was elderly by the time I came around but I'll never forget the one time he jumped on the bed to lay with me while Dustin was in the shower. When Dustin came back in his room he asked if I put Spike up there because he wasn't a jumper in his senior years. I still feel pretty special that old man Spike jumped up there for me. I never saw him jump on anything again. He was picked up and placed on the couch or Melissa's bed until his final day. I remember driving on US-1 to work early one morning when I got the call that he was being taken to the vet and tears started running down my face. He was one of those extra special kind of pets. I think of him every time I see another miniature schnauzer. 

Dustin and I tried having dogs over the years but it never quite worked out. We never thought to go adopt a cat due to Dustin's allergies, so we just kind of figured it would be just the two of us forever. Then these cute little Halloween cats showed up in our front yard and the rest is history.

 

The first blog post dedicated to Cheeto and Olive before they were officially part of the fam. And the second blog post when it really became official. I love how I declared "Cheeto will never be an indoor cat." and by that summer he was inside full time. At first it was due to an altercation with Steve Buscemi (not the actor but a neighborhood cat that looked just like him). But when the vet told us cats live half as long outside as they do inside I was like yinz are staying inside from here on out. That was nine years ago. 

In that time I've had several art commissions of them, taken a million photos and posted them to their very own instagram page, and got tattoos of both of them a year after they found us. 

We always say it's crazy that the four of us found one another because we've all been discarded in different ways. Cheeto was our old neighbor's cat that they left behind when they moved. They knew we had taken a liking to him because before they did so they left a bag of food on our front porch. Olive was most likely born in this neighborhood (which used to have a serious stray cat problem since no one listened to Bob Barker!) in the house behind ours. Cheeto and Olive were palling around from the start. According to the vet Cheeto is 3 months older and they aren't technically related, but they are - you know? We're all related at this point. One big happy family of four.

The Boo Birthday Bonanza

A few months back Erin was all "What would you think if I came down for your birthday?" which I responded with OMGYESTOTALLY. I didn't find out until later she thought it was going to be my 40th and she wanted to celebrate my milestone birthday with me. Ha! Looks like you have to come back next year bitch! We've been excitedly counting down for her arrival and making a tentative itinerary for months because ya girls love a plan. I sent her a list of restaurants and a list of possible activities to get her thoughts. 

I picked her up on Thursday afternoon and we were both starving so it was straight to Se7en Bites. This was one of her picks from my handy dandy list. I've only ever been there once because it's very popular so you have to go on weird times on off days. Thursday around 2 p.m. was perfect! I really wanted to try their chicken pot pie but I didn't want something so heavy so I've added it to my list for my next visit. Maybe I can get Dustin to go with me one of these days. 

 

After lunch we strolled around all the cute shops on Corrine Dr. Then Erin had the idea to go visit her Aunt Ali at work (also where we both used to work 20 years ago AND where we met in the first place). I was totally game. I'm a nostalgia addict so I'll never say no to taking a trip down memory lane or in this case Edgewater Drive. The offices have since moved across the street but it was still very familiar. The minute we walked in we saw Charlie in a meeting in one of those fish bowl type conference rooms. Ali came out, and since this was a surprise visit, she squealed, and then so did we which prompted a major shushing from the others in the lobby. Whoops! Just like old times - being too loud and having too much fun. We quietly walked away from the meeting and got to catch up with Steve and David. Of course Erin and Ali see each other a few times a year and I have even seen her a few times in recent years thanks to Mia's graduation and Erin's wedding. I had not seen any of the attorneys since the day I left which I believe was January 2006ish. They were exactly how I remembered them all except now all of their kids were full on adults which is always a true testament to the movement of time. I mean looking back, Erin and I were practically still kids when we worked there but at the time she and I felt so grown up. I'll never forget the fall of 2002 when I had just transferred to the Winter Park Panera because my OG downtown Panera was falling apart. I saw the "ad" (it was literally just a name and phone number written on the whiteboard) for an office assistant in my business/OJT class. I was looking to move on from my bakery days so I called the same day and the rest is history. Erin started 6 or so months later. Would you believe we didn't even really talk to each other for the first couple months she worked there? It's true. Then we both helped move their office from the first to the second floor and that was the day we fell in friendship love. The second we finally got some time to actually get to know one another on a personal level we were attached at the hip. Going back to that area with her was so fun and brought back so many memories. We couldn't even say them all fast enough...

Me: Remember when there was a post office box on the corner of the 7/11? 

Erin: Remember when you drove me in your first car to the courthouse to show me where to park and how to file documents?

Me: Remember getting lunch at Shakers?

Erin: Remember having to wait at the post office for all the certified mail?

And so on and so forth...

 

After our catch-up with everyone I asked Erin if she wanted to go into a cute little shop I like to frequent that is right down the road. The minute we pulled out of the parking lot it started raining. The shop wasn't even a mile down the road, but by the time we parked, it was pouring. I just looked at her and was like "I have ponchos if you still want to go inside..." She laughed but agreed. It took us a whole 5 minutes to even put on the ponchos. They really should label where to stick your head. She and I kept getting it wrong and cracking up. We finally ran into the store, dripping wet as we apologized to the clerk. Erin then said her now infamous line which was quoted by the shop on their Instagram. I remember scrolling the following morning and seeing it and DYING LAUGHING. I'm like "OMG they quoted you!". Turns out it was worth it because we both left with little goodies. 

Then I took her to grab dinner at Fresh Kitchen. She was VERY excited about this because they aren't in Texas. We went inside, ordered, and then I was recognized by the manager who said "Give her a discount. She's in here all the time. I remember her tattoos." which was very sweet. The funny part was I had already paid but Erin got my discount so still a win! We took it back to my house to eat and thankfully it met all of Erin's expectations and then some. 

  

Erin was very worried that the cats, Cheeto especially, weren't going to give her the time of day. Cheeto has been extremely friendly in recent years (even when Erin and Jon visited last May) so I wasn't worried about it. The minute she sat down here came Cheeto's orange self to plop down right on her leg just as he does to Dustin when he sits in the same spot. The real shock of it all is when Olive came to lay right next to her again and again for the duration of her stay. Olive tolerates houseguests. She will let people pet her but she isn't going out of her way for anyone but Dustin and I, except sometimes Pat. She sure as hell isn't cuddling up to anyone other than those that live in this house. Then comes Erin. So she and Olive are new besties and I couldn't be more excited. 

After dinner Erin and I ran out to Publix to get her some snacks while she was here since she's on a special diet. While at Publix I pointed out the Tru Fru she told me about and she looked at me like I had two heads. She's like "No, those aren't them. They are in the frozen section!" Ok but they literally say Tru Fru so how was I supposed to know there is another version in the frozen section?! The funniest part was she told me about the chocolate peanut butter banana ones and Dustin and I searched several places for it with no luck. Well, no wonder! Hyper-dried vs. hyper chilled in case you were wondering and also so you don't make me same mistake.

She wanted me to open my presents that night. I can totally relate to being so excited to give someone a gift you know they will love, It's so fun! She got me a Taylor shirt and earrings which I wore together that Saturday. She also got me this cute cat shaped anxiety stone. Boo did great! 

    

I woke up on my 39th birthday at 5am to the sound of someone breaking in. Thankfully no one actually was, however, Cheeto was full on catapulting himself in the air and hitting the sliding glass door as if he was in a heated volleyball match, in an attempt to murder a lizard. Cheeto is 22lbs so you can imagine how that sounds when slammed against a glass door. It truly was a scary way to wake up. I appreciate his vigilance and dedication on the Night Watch but he took it a bit too far. Since I couldn't go back to sleep I ended up laying on the couch with my headphones on catching up on tik toks until Erin woke up (WHO SOMEHOW SLEPT THROUGH THE WHOLE THING). Cheeto then decided to come join me and pass the hell out not making a single peep. Go figure.

 

 

Erin is a full on shoulder pad business woman, a boss bitch if you will, a hashtag boss babe - ok you get the point. She owns her own business so she had to do some work for a bit before we started the day. But as soon as we were done it was straight to get pedicures. I legit have not had a professional one since 2023. I just do them myself because shit is expensive and in this economy I can't just be popping out for a pedicure on the reg. It truly felt like a special occasion since it had been so long and I was doing it with my boo. 

She picked a pink similar to her last pedicure and I picked a purple with some sparkles. But then the guy who did my pedicure threw a wrench into our plan when he pulled out the brightest damn yellow. I immediately changed my tune. Erin agreed but hesitantly. Girl won't get a matching tattoo and barely a matching toe color. Does she even love me at all?! Just jokes boo! But I know it was way out of her comfort zone so I definitely appreciated the gesture. She even said a week later it's growing on her! 

   

We picked up Torchy's for my birthday lunch and brought it back to the house to enjoy with Dustin. I started to get a gnarly ass headache and it was really kicking my ass. We both decided it was nap time. She slept in my bed, on Dustin's side, and kept mentioning how comfortable it was and how dark the room was. I don't fuck around with naps or comfort in general. Ha! But the compliments were nice because if anyone appreciates a nap as much as me, it is her. 

We got up and changed into our yoga attire. I really was hoping there would be a Taylor dance party to go to for my birthday but Taylor Swift yoga is just as good. Erin and I used to go every Saturday morning when she and I lived in the same city a lifetime ago. She was nervous because she literally hadn't done yoga since then - a decade, but I assured her that the class is so chill and Stephanie, the instructor, is so supportive of whatever you want to do. Full on yoga routine? Great! Yoga with a little singing and dancing? Awesome! Lay on your mat and just feel the music? Cool! I would never attend a class that is so regimented myself so I wanted to relay that to Erin so she felt more comfortable. Of course she did great! Nicole, Nicole's friend Tiff, and Alyssa all came to this one as well! It was another therapeutic hour long class of yoga flow set to the sister albums of folklore and evermore. After the class I thanked/hugged Stephanie as I do every time and asked her if she could tell me the quote she said at the end of our practice because it really resonated and I didn't want to get it wrong. She was overjoyed by the request and let me take a photo of it from her phone. 

Your new era begins when you choose yourself unapologetically and release the weight of who you were yesterday, it beings when you decide that you're deserving of a life better than the one you're leaving behind, it begins when you start to believe in your own worthiness.

   

 

We grabbed Chick-fil-a on the way home and spent the evening watching Inside Out since Erin had never seen it and the second one just came out. I went out to my car and to check the mail when I noticed the most beautiful sunset overhead. It was a lovely ending to a mostly lovely birthday (minus the headache). 

Erin mentioned wanting to get a tattoo while in town. She started off wanting an orange and then changed it to a swan. I reached out to by boy Shane, and although he was down to do it, the only time he had available was literally right before yoga. Then I reached out to another artist that I have followed for a long time but not had any work done by yet. She was also super sweet and game. Also she said she could get us in at 9:30am the following morning. When Erin told Meagan she replied "Is she sober or something?!"Lolz I love her so much just for wanting and liking to tattoo so early in the day. She is in the same shop as where I got my eyebrows done a few years back. We arrived early as the boo and I tend to do and hung out in the car until she opened the shop. Erin had decided on a few different swans and then narrowed them down to two after I threw them all on an app. so we could really visualize them at once. I told her I really loved the neck and thin lines of the one swan but the feathers of the other. She agreed and boom the design was even better than imagined. Erin sat like a champ as I sat next to her rubbing her arm. Now we are both repping our beloved Swan City bay-bay!

I've got to set up a consult with her immediately. 

   

We went home and napped before my bowling party, which I will devote an entire separate post to. On Erin's last day in town we went out to breakfast and hung out. We were both feeling exhausted and not our selves. We wanted to enjoy the last few hours together therefore we sucked it up and went over to her Aunt and Uncle's new place, told Hazel she was the best girl in the whole world, and then we went out to lunch. Erin and I both forgot Sunday was Father's Day and that maybe her family had plans but they didn't and were excited to go hang out with us. Her cousin, Mia, decided to try out the new SoDo location of A La Carte. Val had told me about this place so I was familiar but had never been. It's a super cute open air building with a little lawn and food trucks on either side. The downside is it's all outside. There is some cover and fans but it is pretty miserable to go in the summer. I had the meatballs from a pizza truck and they were phenomenal. However, I won't be back until the highs are in the 70s or lower. The heat really made me and Erin feel sick and Ali went with us back to the car to cool down in the a/c. I truly will never understand the lizard people who can be out in that and enjoy themselves. 

It was a quick trip to the airport to drop off my Er-Port. We immediately got honked and yelled at upon pulling up to the drop off curb. Can everyone just chill the fuck out? We hugged, she grabbed her bag and I went home. I slept for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. My introverted body was like RECHARGE BITCH and so I did. But damn, another good meeting of the boos in the books. 

 

 

 

Day Four: Two Little Trash Bags

The forecast called for rain on Sunday aka game day all week, it was just a matter of how much and when it would arrive. We bought Steelers ponchos the day we arrived so we were prepared. Dustin bought parking prior to the game so it was super easy to just park and walk around the stadium until the doors opened. Then once we got in we walked around some more because we were there SUPER early. 

Once I peed and we got some drinks we went ahead and just sat down in the very empty stadium and watched it start to fill up. It was kind of misty out so we helped one another put on our little trash bags. We watched both teams  practice  warm-up and before we knew it the game started.

It was a rough time between the constant rain (the mist turned into a drizzle), the batshit ref calls, and the players just not playing great. On top of all of that the dude a few rows in front of us would not sit down so eventually Dustin yelled "Hey man, can you sit down?" and he did! Another fan even thanked Dustin for saying something. I'm just glad a fight didn't break out. Then there was the woman behind us who kept screaming, and I mean belting her very loudest "KIIIIILLLLLL THEEEEEEM!" every other minute. No matter what was happening she wanted them dead. She got so out of hand that even a security guard went over to talk to her. 

As terrible as so many things were during this game, maybe even the worst Steelers game we've ever been to together, Dustin and I still had a really good time. We were both of course disappointed but we didn't let it sour our mood especially toward one another. We left a little early and the Steelers ended up losing to the Jaguars 20 - 10. Womp womp. But I was pumped I got to finally wear my vintage sweatshirt (that I found in Orlando) and my Steel City beanie. It's the small things!

We went for round 2 at Burgatory because we needed something we knew would be great after that mess. 

 

When we got back to the hotel I made sure to take some more foliage selfies while it was still light out. We had a chill night in because we were getting up at 4 AM again the following morning to head home. I truly don't understand people who go on week-long or even longer trips because by day 4 or 5 I am itching to be back in my own bed and more importantly see my damn cats!

Holidaze: Welcome to the Shitshow

In recent years we've all done our own thing for Thanksgiving but still all come together for Christmas. This year Hayley and Stephen were able to be in Florida for Thanksgiving but not Christmas. Dustin and I didn't want to miss out on a visit with them so we switched things up and Thanksgiving became Thanksmas.

But then Hayley was able to make it down last minute and everyone celebrated Christmas in Gainesville per usual. Since Christmas was smack dab in the middle of the week and I couldn't take any time off (got to save that PTO) Dustin and I decided to just stick with our original plan of having Christmas by ourselves. We've had probably a handful of holidays where it's just us two, just our little family, and I have to say I do enjoy it. I did miss spending Christmas in Gainesville but I'm happy that my FOMO was less prominent than usual and didn't push me into pushing myself too far physically and emotionally. Sometimes self care is just doing nothing and being ok with that nothing.

Dustin and I got up early and made orange rolls (aka cinnamon rolls but with orange topping). We watched the Disney parade and made fun of all the hosts. We watched movies and by early afternoon we feasted hard on artichoke dip and ham and cheese sliders on Hawaiian rolls. It didn't feel like Christmas but it was still a really nice stress-free day off.

I Facetimed with the rest of the Shitshow and it was hilarious as always.

Backstory: Last year I gave my aunt a tea towel for the kitchen that says "Welcome To The Shitshow" so now we all lovingly call our family that. I mean, it is pretty damn fitting. 

 

The Friday after Christmas I met up with the Shitshow for a quick little lunch at the ol' Cheesecake Factory. My aunt Sarah had brought Hayley down for her flight out of MCO and my mom brought Marie to join us. I thankfully was allowed to take a long lunch from work and there we were. We all gathered and discussed an array of topics from Bumby being closed and the chaos that came with it to all the family secrets. Marie sipped on her Pina Colada and my mom flung butter across the table and it was all great. It was nice to spend time with everyone even for just a quick while.  But I still feel bad for our poor waitress. GOOD LAWD.