Daily Driver

We traveled a lot of hours together recently to move her storage unit contents closer to home. Travel, sort, load = 10 hours. Travel, unload = 1.25 hrs. Well worth it. Considering we’d both been dreading this for nearly 3 yrs, I think we did a great job and had a lot of laughs along the way!

It’s apparent we should have our own podcast. If you think I’m funny…haHA! Parts is a riot.

Except when she made me drive myself, like a peasant, to work 2 days in a row. And, the first day, it hailed resulting in numerous dents. To be fair, she got a cracked windshield out of it so I’m not truly complaining about my dents. Inside the fitness center, it sounded like WWIII. Alas, no major injuries were reported, just lots of broken windows.

Now that I’ve returned to my chauffeured-lifesyle, I’m sure I’ll never see hail again. One can only hope.

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I ask you –

How many times have you moved?

Have you ever suffered hail damage?

Tell me your thoughts on carpooling! Big fan, as long as it’s with Parts.

(The post Daily Driver first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Making Things

I made a pink lemonade creamsicle with Sugar free pink lemonade, Jordan’s Skinny Syrups coconut, heavy cream and ice. Amazing!

I like jelly beans. I don’t like Dunkin. Didn’t buy them but was considering it.

Still recovering from Air Show. My poor feet took a beating. Once the chronic pain returned, I could tell something wasn’t right. There’s extensive bruising under and around my pinkie toe, as well as a large swollen area under the toe, nearest the side of my foot. It’s non-weight bearing and, early on, was causing pain on the outside of my calf. What now? So, short of religious usage of ibuprofen and staying off it as much as possible because right I’m totally on top of that then here we are. Again.

Also trying red light therapy for mini’s skin issues, as well as testing its claims to be great for healing. We’ll see how it works out.

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I ask you –

Do you like creamsicles?

Have you ever tried red light therapy?

Tell me your favorite brand of jelly beans!

(The post Making Things first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

A Party to Post About!

My favorite great aunt recently celebrated 97 years!

That’s my favorite cousin, James, named after my dad. His look has spanned many generations but one thing remains the same: he’s quite possibly the most brilliant person I know with a genuine laugh and an easy ability to talk about subjects that most people know nothing about.

As a young girl, I would sit in the same room with my older 2nd and 3rd cousins and aunts just to listen to “the adults talk”. They always engaged me with questions about what I thought of the subjects and encouraged me to speak my mind. These are some of the hardest working women I’ve ever met, from lifelong grade school and collegiate-level educators to a businesswoman with a strong penchant for coffee. They get me. This time there was discussion of the 2 traits that most Humphries women are handed a measure of – back pain, and longevity. Fortunately, it seems our family’s women live to their late 80s/90s. Conversely, back pain abounds, notably from carrying around our sparkling personality. My words, not theirs.

It was a short visit but exactly what was needed. Although Aunt Mary Catherine may not remember names as easily as before, her smile still lights up the room and her laugh is the same baritone that once commanded a room’s attention. Her heart is the most beautiful part of her. She has now outlived every family member in our shortened family tree. And her stubbornness? Well, let’s just say it runs in the family.

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I ask you –

Who is the oldest living person in your family?

Who’s birthday party did you last attend?

Surprise parties: yay or nay? Nay. Please don’t. I like knowing what to expect and a surprise party is not it.

(The post A Party to Post About! first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Doing Some Things

Totally phoning it in on this post because it’s Saturday morning and I got nothing.

Joy ride with my bestie. “POL”

BOGO. Two coffees are always better than one.

Parts. Doing Parts things.

My feet hurt a lot lately.

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I ask you –

Have you ever taken a joy ride disguised as on-the-job training? Me neither.

How much coffee is too much?

Tell me the last thing you did! This should be fun.

(The post Doing Some Things first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Impressive

Not only am I alive but I’m also creating models of decision making, which is mostly unbelievable seeing as the way I’ve lived my life thus far is one questionable decision after another. haHA

Random thought inline with the above – the dissertation process is working well. I don’t want to sound too confident but I put in more hours stressing those seemingly unconnected papers than I have in the past few weeks prepping this giant novel of a dissertation. Alas, I’m thankful I developed a very strict habit of waking early and focusing most evenings on writing. I read somewhere that even if you only wrote 250 words per day, the benefit at the end of a semester is immeasurable. Believe it. Sometimes my discipline is impressive, even to me, but now it’s such a habit, such an integral part of me that I don’t know any other way. Whether I like it or not, the paper continues to flesh out.

The weekly chats with my chair, although a scheduling challenge at times, are rewarding and I am always amazed at when the chat is over how much good information I’ve garnered from her. She is assuredly a blessing in my life. Speaking of amazing women, there’s an incredible woman in my life who will soon be 97. Ninety-seven years on planet Earth. She’s older than the (former) Queen. And, in my opinion, the most impressive woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of loving.

Updates coming soon as we visit her.

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I ask you –

What are your skills?

How do you feel about decision-making?

Tell me the age of the oldest living person in your life!

(The post Impressive first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

And so it begins –

I’ll probably eeeek my way into the 25% category by end of May but it will be hard fought. Every year, I have goals to run through the summer sans heat illness and last year I held on to those goals. Let’s see how it turns out this summer. 9% doesn’t look like much, especially because in my reality it’s maybe 2%. So here we go!

This is what a proper day off looks like! I took leave on Good Friday but somehow ended up teleworking with numerous staffing phone calls and 3 teams meetings. Not exactly the day off I had been hoping for, so I requested a re-do. Minus the purchase of cake and cupcakes prior to birthday party weekend…Nailed it.

Finally, my mini’s birthday came back around. To hear her tell it, it “took 100 years”. Oh, the drama. She celebrated with her friends, then we celebrated her. Parts nailed it with the axolotl decorations, shirt, and everything in between. And I was so impressed with mini’s friends (and parents) who are fabulous gift givers. Maybe it’s easy for some to know what to give a young girl but I struggle so kudos to them.

And now…cake!

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I ask you –

Are you getting acclimated to the heat?

What is your preferred day off like?

Favorite type of cake – GO! Lemon blueberry.

(The post And so it begins – first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

(More) Photos with Minimal Explanations

Yes. I bought it. Honestly, not their best work. The pieces of cake are delicious but the ice cream is plain vanilla. Not a huge fan.

I think about this sandwich more than I should. But it’s keto so not a big concern. It’s also amazing with just scrambled eggs, bacon, and avocado. Trust me.

Jada, Gia, Luli, me, and Jarrod

A team photo from the recent 5k. We had our largest turnout of participants probably in the history of installation fun runs.

Jumped on the permanent jewelry bandwagon. A huge thank you to our beautiful friend, Lyndsie, for the opportunity to get bracelets. If you come across Sacred Strands, you’re in for a treat!

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I ask you –

Have you tried the Gooey Butter Cake?

Is there a food you’re currently stuck on?

Permanent jewelry: yay or nay?

(The post (More) Photos with Minimal Explanations first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Photos and Minimal Explanations

Why do they keep tempting me?!

Spring is my favorite!

We’re 4-0!

L -> R: Jordan, Beth, Sam, Brittany, me, April, and Roland (not pictured: Jarrod and Tina)

First, Parts got me addicted to Starbucks frappes. Now, we’ve progressed to HTeaO. The unsweetened coconut tea is divine.

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I ask you –

Will you try the newest Blue Bell ice cream?

What is your least favorite flavor?

You can only pick one: unsweetened tea or coffee. You already know…

(The post Photos and Minimal Explanations first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Tip Toe’ing

…thru the tulips!

It’s a good thing the expedition called for tiptoeing because my knees are very bruised from volleyball but we’re undefeated so I can’t complain too much. Also, a day after turning 38, I managed to bust all the blood vessels in my middle finger putting the volleyball net away. Not my middle finger! I need that one! This is why…I have spare parts.

Back to the tulips, the Texas Tulips located in Pilot Point, TX. Only accessible about 6 weeks out of the year, it’s a fun getaway, one I didn’t know anything about until a few weeks ago. Spring Break presented the perfect opportunity.

I might have also overindulged in sushi and cookies. Both were incredible! If you’re in the DFW area, Sushi Axiom is one of my favorites. I probably should have taken a photo but I ate it all before considering the photo op. For the cookies, Insomnia Cookies is the way to go. Only available near college campuses, they’re open until 0200ish and offer delivery of warm, fresh cookies to your doorstep. Not kidding.

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I ask you –

What are your favorite flowers?

Have you heard of Insomnia Cookies?

Any idea on the origin of the word tiptoe?

(The post Tip Toe’ing first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Out Late

Recently, there was a conversation about party tricks. As people began to answer, I thought to myself “We’re supposed to have a trick?! The trick is I showed up to the party. I am the trick!” Weird.

I like to change my TEAMS message to outrageous, completed unassociated with work responses. For example, some of my best have referred to running, wearing “das boot”, having no friends, being confused, pacing in my office, etc. You get the drift. I probably field at least one question a week regarding my status and what it means. Usually I have no idea aka I don’t remember what I was talking about so it’s fun to speculate.

When I’m bored in the office (please don’t mistaken that for having nothing to do because I absolutely have things that need to be done), I send a text in the group chat with some off-the-wall thing about how I have to do all the work myself and when are you guys gonna show up and fine, you all hate me. I’m a riot! Interestingly, I get a really quick response to my randomness, unlike when I’m barking orders or have something important I need. Who knew.

Finally, this is my last week “off” until December. And I’m uncertain what that break even looks like because then I’ll be prepping to begin the travel/interview research process. I’m not concerned with taking time off work – I have tons of that but the constant in the trenches part of this feels like a lot. To be expected. Perhaps I should stay up late every night to take back control.

Or continue to get up early. Seize the day.

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I ask you –

Do you have a party trick? What is it?

How often do you stay out late?

Tell me your plans this week!

(The post Out Late first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)