Five Things Friday Vol. 14

Five Things Friday: just five things I’m thinking about or things that made my week, or things that I otherwise feel like sharing.

five things

Jon and I had our 19th meet-a-versary earlier this week. 🖤 It’s mind-boggling to me to think about how long we’ve known each other. I had calculated a while back that on September, 22, Jon knew me exactly half of his life. He looked at me incredulously, when I told him. It definitely doesn’t feel like that long. How long have you known your SO?

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This week has been so mentally draining. I don’t know about you, but if you still follow the news regularly, you probably know what I am talking about. Throw social media on top of it and it’s been particularly hard to escape the sh*tshow that’s been going down for the last week with Trump contracting COVID-19, going to the hospital, allegedly taking ALL THE DRUGS, miraculously “recovering” within a few days, boasting the American healthcare system chaos (that so many people can’t access) and asking people to not let COVID-19 dominate their lives. WTH, bro?

And all this, while I haven’t even mentioned the vice presidential debate (although big kudos to Kamala Harris for putting up with it and calling Pence out by saying “I am speaking“. We all felt you, Kamala!), all the other nonsense Trump has said since Monday, and the foiled plot of a militia group to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Withmer and attack police officers. What the hell is going on in this country?

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All this is why it’s so important that we voted this week. We got the ballots in the mail on Tuesday and they were filled out and ready to be dropped off at our nearest polling place on Wednesday morning. God, I am hoping you’ve made a plan to vote. Here’s a reminder on how to vote in every state. Please don’t let your voice go to waste.

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I emailed my supervisor this week to coordinate my taking some “use or lose” leave this month. In all the years that I’ve lived and worked here, I’ve never had “use or lose” annual leave available at the end of the year that forced me to take time off when I was not planning a trip to see family. It’s a weird feeling, to be honest, and I truly wish I would take the time off to travel somewhere, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. However, I definitely feel that taking a few days off is never a bad idea, but especially this year, so I am thankful for it. 

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I haven’t run outdoors because of yet another round of bad air quality for two weeks. I’ve been thankful that I had my spin bike to keep me busy indoors, but I really hope to get out this weekend for a nice long run by the river. What are you up to? Do you get a long weekend (because of Columbus Day, which really shouldn’t be celebrated anymore)?

TGIF!

  1. So sorry to hear air quality is bad again. Don’t get me started on all the political stuff going on in the US heck the entire world. I really am exhausted and sad with all what’s going on. As for your first question Ive known my SO for 17 years and we are together for 15 of them. Hope you have a better week coming up.

    1. Wow, you’ve been together for a long time, too. Congrats :)

  2. I work tomorrow, but still — I agree. Columbus Day should NOT be a thing anymore. Let’s switch it for something else like MLK JR. day or something.

    I thought Kamala did a great job, and I’m so here for her “I’m speaking.”

    It’s been an intense week or so with the news and social media though. I really need to try and spend more time away from it all. I want to be informed, but it can be TOO much.

    -Lauren

    1. I know what you mean. I always tell myself to cut back on the news consumption, but than I still can’t look away. Ugh.

  3. I hope you can start getting outside more soon! It’s been quite a week/month/year hasn’t it? My husband and I met and started dating 15 years ago, when we were 22. So not half our lives yet:)

    1. 15 years is a long time too :)

  4. 19 years! Wowsers! That is a long time! Phil and I hit the 8 year mark of knowing each other earlier this month which kind of blows my mind.

    We voted earlier this month and within 4-5 days we could confirm our ballots had been received. So that feels good! Gosh I hope things will change after this election… I really cannot handle 4 more years of Trump. I will lose my mind!

    1. Good for you for voting early! The sooner we decide this election, the better.

  5. My husband and I have known each other since 1996. Seriously where has the time gone? My younger daughter had Columbus Day off, although I think it was “rebranded” as something else. It was not observed where my older daughter goes to school.

    1. Wow, you’ve been together with your husband for a long time, too. I love it.

  6. Voted already and dropped it in the dropbox! You reminded me, though, that I need to check to see if it has been processed. I will do that later today!

    And yes, the last few weeks have just been too much, even for the Year of Covid in the time of the great pumpkin. I hope SO much that we all get a much-needed break from at least the toxicity emanating from him and his minions. (I can’t even bring myself to type his name anymore…)

    Take care with the AQI issues… scary to watch from a distance, I can’t imagine what it’s like to live through it.

    1. Oh good thinking, I also wanted to make sure our ballots were processed.

  7. Aww, happy meet-a-versary!!!

    Last week was bonkers. We had a weekend away and I was so glad from the break from the news… and bummed to start reading it again when we got back.

    I hope you enjoy your use or lose despite not being able to leave! I have never made it to the magic 250 number! Is that your number too?

    1. Our “magic number” for use or lose is 240 and I also have never hit that number before, haha. It’s just because all my scheduled trips this year got canceled, so all the leave I had saved up accumulated even more.
      I’ll take it ;)

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