Robin: When PJ had a job, he was sexy. He was guardian of the bathroom key. A hot guy telling you when you can and can’t pee? That’s the dream.
Ted: [incredulous] That’s the dream? The dream?!?!?! Like what Martin Luther King was talking about?? -How I Met Your Mother

That I quit my volunteer gig at the crisis nursery. I feel bad about it but it just wasn’t a good fit for me. I was physically dreading going, to the point where my body felt sick and sluggish. The minute I emailed the coordinator telling her it wasn’t going to work out, I felt a weight lift off my chest. Shouldn’t volunteering feel rewarding? A big part of my reason for quitting was the staff and how they made me feel.

Another part was just the nature of the job. It was a lot of stress and responsibilities to deal with and now just isn’t  a good time. I think if I were like the other volunteers and had already raised children of my own, or had a lot of experience dealing with kids, then it would be another story. I did really love playing with the kids for the most part, and I’m still on the lookout for something in the future that involves working with kids. Maybe just not kids in crisis, but more of a nursery or after school program instead. Somewhere they would train me properly. I’d also like something in the town we are moving to when we buy a house. This volunteer job would have been a huge trek and cost us a lot in gas and bridge toll when we move.

I confess…

That our lives are also going to be consumed with buying a home. I know that once we close, I’m going to spend all of my spare time fixing up the house and making it our own. I cannot wait to become homeowners!

I confess…

That we put an offer in on a home on Sunday and we’re still waiting to hear back. I’m trying not to lose hope but it’s not looking good guys. I don’t even want to post pictures of it because it’ll bum me out. It’s sooo pretty.

I confess…

That I’m so so excited for our annual trip to Carmel. We are leaving just as soon as Match gets home from work today. I’m driving us so he can sleep and try to get on a normal day schedule. It will be so nice to walk the beaches with Match and Monkey. To get up in the morning and get coffee and donuts for the fam. To drink gin and tonics and watch the waves crash on the sand.

I confess…

That the only thing I’m dreading is having to sleep in the living room. This year Match’s sister, Travel Girl and her boyfriend will be joining us. It’s the first time we’re meeting him, and it’s the first time I’ve vacationed anywhere with her. Since she hasn’t been to Carmel in so long, and they are staying longer than we are, Match’s parents are giving them the guest room. This leaves us, the married couple, to the living room.

I confess…

That Match and I both think this is bullshit. BUT the in-laws are paying for the vacation rental, and a lot of the food for the weekend, and I really shouldn’t complain. I’m so grateful because otherwise we’d have to take out a check city payday advance loans. We are guests of theirs and we will have fun no matter where we have to sleep. They just might have to deal with us locking ourselves in the bathroom for a little vacation nookie. Hey, that’s what happens when you don’t give the newlywed couple who haven’t had a lot of time together lately the bedroom!

I confess…

It wouldn’t be the first time Match and I have done it in the bathroom of a parent’s house. We are so bad! Where’s the craziest place you’ve done it? Come on spill! Confession is good for the soul!

Frasier: I would like to nominate as the stupidest creature on earth: the one who awakens each day to drive through gridlocked traffic, to sit in a window less office breathing recirculated air, then returns home and collapses into a stupor, only to do the same damn thing all over again every day until he dies.

Norm: Looking forward to that vacation, hey Frase?

Frasier: You bet. We’re going to Maui. -Cheers

Here’s the long overdue recap of my second year going to Carmel with Match and his parents.

We had such a great time. We walked every day, and most importantly Match and I spent quality time together. We kicked back, we read, we explored, we vacationed.

Doesn’t this rock look like a heart?

We ended almost every night with chocolate, a little drink, and dominoes. We’re such 60 year olds!

One of the days we decided to explore Monterey a little bit. We hit up an outdoor mall to look for a dress for me for the reception dinner Future MIL is hosting for us to meet the out of town guests the night before the wedding.

Here’s the dress I found-isn’t it adorable? And with a gift card I’ve had forever and a huge sale the store was having, I bought my brand new dress for a whopping $13.45! Such a steal.

After my amazing shopping find we were famished. We stumbled across a sushi restaurant that advertised $5.99 lunches. We were skeptical but thought we’d give it a try.

Not only was the Teriyaki chicken lunch $5.99 but all of the sushi rolls were half price. It was some of the best sushi I’ve ever had, and that’s saying a lot. My mouth is watering just looking at the picture. I can’t wait to go back!

We also explored Cannery Row and did the little touristy thing.

Here I got proof of my talents on an old school kissing machine.

Match practicing for his sheriff job. You can’t see it but he’s totally making the same face as the statue.

I think my favorite night was our last night there. We built a bonfire and sipped Irish Coffees.

Match’s parents and their pup on one side, me, Match and Monkey on the other. It was so relaxing listening to the waves and watching the fire. It was the perfect end to a wonderful vacation. Just think-next year Match and I will be there as husband and wife. I can already picture us going there with our kids someday. Nothing like a little beach weather as a natural baby eczema treatment. But not just yet. I think we have a few years left of it just being the four of us, or hopefully five when Match’s sister moves back to the states!

Dorothy: [in Rose's dream, about the wedding] You can’t disappoint your guests.

Rose: The guests? But I have to think about what’s best for me!

Dorothy: That’s only in real life, Rose. In a dream, you do what’s best for the guests. -The Golden Girls

E at The Adventures of Starting Over

Brittany at Diary of B

Michelle at Things I Said and Meant to Say

Mia: The fancy beach house works with a lot of women, doesn’t it?
Charlie: Honestly, it’s like a G-spot with two mortgages. -Two and a Half Men

Carmel was incredible. We had sun almost every day, which is unheard of for that area. We played on the beach, we took long walks at night, we lounged around doing nothing. We put together an insanely hard puzzle. We shagged on the floor of the guest room because the twin beds were way too squeaky. In short, it was a great vacation.

When we first got there, I was preparing myself for a sort of beach shack, because most vacation rentals aren’t typically all that luxurious. Match already warned me that we’d have to sleep in twin beds, but we’d push them together (ha!). When we got there I was floored by how nice it was. It’s an older house, but it’s beautiful, see?

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Phoebe: You’ve got me, Jason Dean. I’m yours. So no more wooing.

Jason: Okay, no more wooing. I guess I’ll cancel out helicopter to Carmel for dinner.

Phoebe: No, no, no, maybe a little bit more wooing. -Charmed

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but Match’s family is very different than mine. They have beautiful things, they enjoy wine and the finer things in life, and they have a beach house in Carmel they rent every summer. My family drinks beer and boxed wine, and camps out on the beach in the summer. Not that there is anything wrong with that at all! I love my family, but sometimes it’s nice to see how the other half lives.

Thursday morning Match and I are getting up bright and early, and taking the four hour drive to Carmel, to enjoy a much needed vacation. Because of the generosity of his parents, we get to stay in their vacation rental, relax on the beach, and we even get to bring Monkey. (more…)