My Armpits Hurt and Other Three-Legged Lessons

About a week ago, in the most mundane of circumstances, I dislocated my patella (that’s your knee cap for anyone who didn’t go to medical school) and tore my MCL (that’s the ligament that keeps your shin attached to your knee).

Since then I’ve learned quite a few things.

A few I already knew and had forgotten, others I wasn’t aware of yet.

Some things you learn when life (literally) knocks you down:

1.) Asking for help blows.

Maybe it’s because I don’t trust most people to come through for me or to do things the way I would (because of course my way is better).

Maybe it’s because I never want to burden anyone.

Whatever the reason, asking for help is right up there with being locked in a room full of cats, so I do everything in my power to avoid it.

2.) I can NOT do everything myself.

However, there are an amazing number of things you can learn to do one-handed.

All the mommies out there know what I’m talking about!

How about practically everything?!?

Necessity is the mother of invention.

If you have to use at least one crutch to get around, you figure out real quick how to do everything else with your free hand.

3.) Who your friends are.

Not the friends you say “hi” to at shows or party all night with.

The friends who actually return phone calls, check in on you, and will cart your crippled ass around.

Don’t be surprised when the latter turns out to be a much smaller group than the former.

4.) There is actually a technique to using crutches!

Up with the good, down with the bad is the best way to traverse stairs.

You should always use a solo crutch on your uninjured side.

If you lower your crutch height it will force you to use them correctly.

I only wish someone had told me before I rubbed my armpits raw!

This will of course, shift your weight to your hands, specifically the soft fleshy part of your thumbs.

I don’t know how to make that stop throbbing but I do know the next person who tells me I’ll build up a callus gets hit in the shin with a crutch.5.) Listen to your body!

I can’t help but think of the nights when all I wanted was to stay home and curl up on the couch, but instead told myself I had to honor my commitments.

Maybe if I hadn’t pushed myself to go out just because it was a Friday Night and I could, my knee wouldn’t have revolted.

Maybe if I had taken better care of myself I wouldn’t now be on forced sabbatical…

6.) If is physically impossible to vomit in a toilet with one leg in a brace.

Make sure you have a bucket handy.

The cocktail of drugs prescribed WILL make you nauseous.

7.) Listen to the doctor when they say:

“Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

Make sure to drink plenty of water.”

You might think it isn’t possible to feel any worse.

Go a week without pooping and get back to me.

8.) Pockets are your friend but a fanny pack is your BEST friend!

You’ll reach a point when you don’t give a shit.

You just want to be able to carry your own stuff.

Get a fanny pack and thank me later.

Also the only acceptable time to wear leggings as pants

9.) You WILL feel sorry for yourself.

Just go ahead and cry.

I’m not guaranteeing it will make you feel any better but the headache you’ll get from holding back the tears will most certainly make you feel worse.

10.) PATIENCE

It is a virtue I was definitely born without and is the most challenging part of all.

It takes twice as long to do anything on crutches.

You will be at the mercy of others.

So, take a deep breathe and count your lucky stars this is only temporary.

A Girl Always Needs Her Dad

I might be in my thirties, but if there’s anything I’ve learned in three decades, it’s that I’ll always need my Dad.

He’s also taught me some pretty great lessons over the years.

In honor of my old man’s birthday (November 1st for those of you who know him and want to wish him well) I’ve put together the top 15 lessons I learned from the best Dad a girl could ask for.

At Fenway with the best Dad a girl could ask for

1.) Take care of your car. I’m pretty bad at it, but I know I should check my oil, tire pressure, and miscellaneous fluids on a regular basis. It also couldn’t hurt to give the old girl a vacuum every once in awhile either.

2.) Family first. Friends come and go but your family is forever. Take care of them and they’ll take care of you right back.

Our family 🙂

3.) A deep and unwavering love for ALL things musical. Of course he taught me to appreciate the classics but the man has the MOST eclectic taste in music. Pretty ironic considering he can’t hear for shit! Just kidding Dad 🙂

4.) Gratitude and appreciation. Every night at dinner, without fail, Dad proclaims to Mom, “This is the best thing I’ve had to eat all day!” It doesn’t matter if it’s fish sticks or filet mignon, he appreciates the hot meal she takes the time to make for him. Thank yous go much farther than you’d ever think.

5.) Hard work pays off. The man worked a rotating schedule and almost never had a weekend off for 20 years, but he retired at 50. I call that WINNING.

Retiring at the ripe old age of 50!

6.) Celebrate your victories. No matter how small you think a win is, take a moment and appreciate a job well done.

7.) A place for everything, and everything in it’s place. As kids, if we didn’t put our stuff away, it was likely to get thrown out. On the plus side, if you always put your shit away, you always know where it is.

8.) Paddling a boat around a lake brings a unique sense of accomplishment and peace of mind. It’s pretty hard to be anything but happy surrounded by calm waters and wilderness.

Paddling around Emerald Lake 🙂

9.) Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Take pride in your work or no one else will.

10.) Be kind. It can mean the world and it costs you nothing. I’ve never seen my old man be rude to anyone. That includes people I’m pretty sure he can’t stand. Exclusion is for assholes. Being nice to people you don’t like doesn’t mean you’re fake, it means you’re mature enough to tolerate your dislike towards them.

11.) Bitching and moaning is a waste of time. If you can fix something, FIX IT! If not get over it already.

12.) Make some “me” time. Whatever it is you enjoy doing, make time for it. A hobby is a great way to blow off steam and challenge yourself.

The man’s a 6 handicap. That doesn’t happen by accident!

13.) Find the funny. Trips home from the Cape usually included a stop at Friendly’s before the bridge. One time, as Dad went to put ketchup on his fries, when he shook the bottle, he (and the whole restaurant) discovered the cap wasn’t fully on. Ketchup sprayed EVERYWHERE! The first person to laugh was my old man. That always stuck with me, because really, if you can’t laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?

14.) The value of a dollar. As kids we got paid to rake the acorns in our yard. Let me tell you with four oak trees back there, that’s a shit ton of acorns. All I had to do was look at the calluses on my palms to realize money was something you earned.

15.) Enjoy life. No one gets out alive so you might as well have some fun while you’re here.

That’s the smile of a man who lives life to the fullest!

Happy Birthday Dad!! ILY

It’s Finally Friday!!!

Quote of the Day:

Round the World:

The 33 most beautiful abandoned places in the world.

Climbing the Ladder:

Never forget another name again.

The most epic resignation letter ever.

Wine Me, Dine Me:

Homemade caramel sauce – in your slow cooker! What the what?!?

Out and About:

For all you peeps who aren’t going phishing this weekend:

Friday Fun:

Frank Manzi will be playing Bentley’s Bistro in East Longmeadow 8pm to midnight. For those of you who don’t know Frank, be prepared for some amazing tunes. Bentley’s is the old Fusion restaurant.

For you kiddos out in the boondocks, John Cantalini will be tearing it up solo at Teresa’s in Ware starting at 7:30pm. Go for the food, stay for the music.

Looking to get your country on?? Truck Stop Troubadours will be rocking their Hillbilly Revival at Salvatore’s in Springfield.

Saturday Shenanigans:

The Kings will be rocking The Southwick Inn. Strap on your dancing shoes and boogie on down. Show starts at 10pm.

The Shamrock is kicking off Halloween a little early with DJ Supercold. Costume contest, drink specials, and your favorite old school tracks.

Giggles and Such:

45 singalongs to get you through your Friday.

Have a great weekend!

It’s Finally Friday!!!

Quote of the Day:

Dollars + Sense:

No one lives forever. Estate planning tips for peeps under 40.

How to buy health insurance online.

Luscious Locks:

Never have a bad hair day again.

Wine Me, Dine Me:

Make Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana at home.

Round the World:

Seeing the northern lights is definitely on my bucket list. Check out 3 places in America to watch them. They’re actually not that far away!

Climbing the Ladder:

Found your dream job but not sure you’re qualified? How to figure out if you should go for it.

Out and About:

Friday Fun:

Your favorite 90’s cover band Gnome Sane is back at the Yardehouse Tavern in Enfield. Grab your best flannel and strap on those dancing shoes. The gun show starts at 9pm.

The fabulous Ms. Katelyn Richards will be rawking the South Hadley Yardehouse. Always a good time when this lady’s on stage!

Saturday Shenanigans:

Haven’t made it down to the Big E yet?? What better reason to stop by than The Kings Duo at Storrowtown Tavern! Music goes from 12pm – 4pm.

Bad Rooster will be tearin’ it up down in Hartford, CT at Black Eyed Sally’s. Show starts at 9pm. Call ahead and reserve a table. Have a little dinner with your show!

Looking for dinner and a show a little closer to home?? John Cantalini and his amazing guitar will be at the 350 Grille in Springfield, MA. Music starts at 8pm.

Giggles and Such:

Have a great weekend!

P. S. Adventures will be going on hiatus for a much needed break. We will return to your regularly scheduled programming October 16th.

Put It On My Tab

It took me far longer than it should have to start making sound financial decisions.

Although, it seems to be taking everyone far longer than it should to get their money right.

So, I put together a list of the top ten money lessons I learned the hard way.

Maybe some of you can benefit from my not so savvy experience.

1. Make a monthly budget and STICK TO IT.

Also make sure to include ALL expenses in your budget.

If you go out on Friday nights and regularly drop a hundo at the bar, don’t fool yourself into thinking you won’t.

There is no judgement in finance, just numbers.

No matter what it is, put it in the budget.

Like blowing coke off a hooker’s ass? No judgement! Just put it in the budget!!

2. Save 20% of your income. At least. I know it seems like a lot but when that rainy day comes and you’re in a jam you’ll be happy you did.

3. Never, ever, ever take money out of your 401k. This also applies for when you leave one job for another. ROLL THAT SHIT OVER!! Taxes and penalties aside, for those of you how don’t know how compounding interest works take a look at this:Basically your interest is earning interest. You earn $50 from year 0 – 1. But in year 1-2, now that your total is $150, you earn $75 for the year, giving you $225. In year 2-3 you have $225, so you earn $112.50. In 3 years you more than double your return. Think about what that would look like over 20 years!

That’s a shit-ton of money to lose out on for something you could probably don’t need. No one wants to HAVE to work when they’re 80. Start saving now.

3. Always, always, always, always, always, always, pay off your credit card at the end of each month. If it helps, consider it cash, whenever you use your card, enter the amount into your checkbook just like you would a debit card transaction.

4. Do NOT live beyond your means. If you haven’t earned it, don’t spend it. Ever hear the saying “Don’t borrow trouble”?? They’re talking about money!

5. For most of us, students loans are unfortunately a necessary evil and the devil writes in very small print. Make sure you know exactly what you’re taking and how much that payment will be when the piper comes a-calling.

Forbearance sounds like an awesome idea. Indefinitely defer paying my student loans?? Why not?

Just an FYI – any unpaid interest during your forbearance time period will be added to your principal. Meaning you can go from having $20,000 in student loans to $25,000 over night. And at 8% interest that makes one huge difference come pay day.

6. Having a second job will help pay for those student loans, keep you out of trouble and stop you from spending money. Think about it.

7. There is a difference between a “want” and a “need”. You need groceries. You want the new iPhone.

8. There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying generic. Paying $10 more for a bottle of lotion just because it says Aveeno on it is stupid. Don’t be stupid.

9. Being industrious can save you serious scratch. Paint your own nails, change your own oil, wash your car at home, cook meals instead of eating out, I just wouldn’t recommend cutting your own hair…

10. Always have a little “mad” money tucked away. Some days you just want to say “fuck it” and buy the new iPhone, if you have mad money set aside, you can. Second jobs are a great source of mad money.

Or if you really, really want it – PUT IT IN THE BUDGET!

What about you guys?

What are the best financial lessons you’ve learned?

How many times did it take you to learn them??

It’s Finally Friday!!!

Quote of the Day:

Looking for Love:

Relationship tools from unlikely places.

Wine Me, Dine Me:

Sausage and tortellini soup on a chilly Fall night?? Yes please!

How Does Your Garden Grow:

16 foods that will re-grow from kitchen scraps.

Dollars + Sense:

All the financial advice you’ll ever need on a 4×6 index card.

Home Sweet Home:

Did you know gray walls put a damper on sexy time?? Find out what colors to paint your home for a harmonious living space.

Round the World:

What are you waiting for??

Inspirational:

It’s okay if you cry. I did. This commercial is better than most of the movies out today.

Out and About:

In case you find yourself stuck in the middle of an awkward silence this weekend…

Friday Fun:

The fabulous Katelyn Richards will be celebrating her birthday at Club Meadows tonight in East Longmeadow. The line-up includes the lovely lady herself, Cold Shot, and many more.

The Marks Brothers will be playing all your favorites at Hoops n Hops in Simsbury, CT.

Saturday Shenanigans:

Your favorite wandering minstrels are wandering down to Rhode Island! Primate Fiasco will be rocking the roof off The Spot Underground in Providence. Also on the bill, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Get down to the Ocean State for some super funky dance jams you don’t want to miss!!

Got those dancing shoes on but can’t hitch a ride to RI?? Get down to Sam the Clam’s in Plantsville for Bad Rooster!!

For all you Deadheads, The Dead Show will be at The Austrian Donau Club in New Britain, CT. $8, doors open at 9pm.

Sunday Funday:

As if you needed another reason to go to The Big E, The Kings will be at Storrowton Tavern Sunday afternoon. Show starts at 5pm. Go early and gorge, then dance off those calories!

Giggles and Such:

What your music taste says about you on a date.

Check out this epic list of totally awesome singalongs to rock your Friday.

Have a great weekend!

The Awkward Way to Start Your Day…

Last month I got to spend an amazing week down in Myrtle Beach, SC.

While there, I was reminded how very different the behavior of Americans can be based on their geographical background.

If you’ve never experienced it, Southern Hospitality is in fact a real thing.

Walking down the street in Myrtle Beach, the majority of people you pass will make eye contact, smile, and say hello.

It takes a little getting used to at first.

There were times I purposefully avoided eye contact to avoid an interaction.

However, from what I could tell, this cue does not deter the Southern “Hey, how ya doin?” nor the subsequent conversation.

Which can be tedious and extremely annoying depending on how bad your Southerner is at picking up social cues.

Overall though, I really enjoy the friendly, outgoing manners down South.

Coming back to good ole Massachusetts was certainly an adjustment!

My office building has about 20 floors with various companies.

Meaning, when you get on the elevator, chances are it’s full of strangers.

Strangers who all seem to find their shoes or their phone immensely interesting.

Some mornings I just want to start a sing along and see what happens.

When did ignoring the people around you become the polite thing to do??

I know you did not just get a super important email!!

Your screen is giant!

Everyone can see you’re on Facebook!

It’s okay to smile at your fellow man.

Shit, you can even say “Good Morning”.

I promise they won’t bite. At least I won’t 🙂

Are you one of those people in the elevator?

Or do you say “Hello” to whoever crosses your path??

Do you prefer the lack of interaction or do you wish people were more friendly?

It’s Finally Friday!!!

Quote of the Day:

Dollars + Sense:

Get into a little feeder-bender? 6 ways to reduce your car insurance rates after an accident.

Looking for some financial freedom?? Try making these counter-cultural decisions.

Body Lovin’:

The science of napping.

Got a serious case of CRS? 7 tricks to help you remember anything.

Climbing the Ladder:

On the job hunt?? 8 ways to make a great first impression when you land that interview.

Out and About:

Friday Fun:

For all you Phans out there impatiently waiting for Fall Tour, check out 7 Below at The Main Pub in Manchester, CT. Show starts at 9pm. $7 at the door.

Looking for an evening of good eats and good tunes?? Check out John Cantalini at La Cucina in Hampden, MA. Music starts at 7:30pm.

Wormtown Music Festival at Camp Kee-Wanee in Greenfield, MA kicks off Friday night with sets by Turkuaz, Ryan Montbleau (featuring special guest Primate Fiasco), Rusted Root and many more! Festival runs Friday thru Sunday. Tickets are $120 at the gate.

Saturday Shenanigans:

Bangfield will be rocking their own brand of hip hop/rock/funk/reggae at Bishop’s Lounge in Northampton.

Sunday Funday:

Feeling nostalgic for Jerry?? Then head down to Sonny’s Place in Somer, CT for the Lobsterz from Mars. Free outdoor show from 1pm – 5pm.

Giggles and Such:

Have a great weekend!

May the Force be with You

I don’t like hearing “no”.

I know, I know, who does?!?

It’s not that I’ve never been told I couldn’t have what I want.

Trust me, that happens far more frequently than you’d think.

But, I was raised to believe, if you want something bad enough, you work your ass off to make it happen, and you don’t stop until you reach your goal.

The trouble with that mindset is it doesn’t always work so well with people.

Most people, once they have their mind made up, are very hard to budge.

I’m not a closer.

I’d be terrible at sales.

I hear “no” and get so frustrated I don’t have another course of action.

I can’t see any solution to change that “no” to a “yes”.

Cajoling and pleading only work sometimes.

And a pretty smile might open a few doors, but that’s about it.

I feel powerless when someone shuts me down.

Like I lost my ability to influence my world.

Like my choices are taken away.

It makes me wish for magical powers.

If only I could harness The Force!

I wouldn’t abuse my power.

The Jedi Mind Trick would only be employed during desperate situations.

Tragic stalemates where neither party can find a way out of the corners they’ve backed themselves into.

Maybe once or twice to see future lottery numbers or to mess with unassuming bystanders.

How funny would it be to make someone’s table levitate and turn circles mid-meal at a restaurant??

That’s just good, clean fun!

Have you ever really changed someone’s mind?

Or did you just wear them down to the point where they’d agree to anything just to get you to shut up?

Do you think it’s even possible to change someone’s mind??

What magical power do you wish you had?!

It’s Finally Friday!!!

Quote of the Day:

Climbing the Ladder:

You gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em. How to tell is it’s time to move on.

Get Cultured:

11 untranslatable words from other countries. My favorite is waldeinsamkeit. Now if I could only figure out how to pronounce it!

Body Lovin’:

Spine and neck pain got you down? Try these 8 yoga poses to cure your cervical issues.

Wine Me, Dine Me:

Your new favorite tuna sandwich.

Looking for Love:

Hot date with a new boo?? Here are 50 questions to ask to see if they’re the one for you.

Out and About:

Friday Fun:

It’s a beautiful night to watch a movie under the stars! Big is playing in Colt Park in Hartford. Show starts at 7pm.

Darik and The Funbags will be rocking out upstairs at Max Cap in Chicopee. $10 cover. 10pm start LA Looks will be kicking the party off at 9pm downstairs.

For all you deadheads The Dead Show is at Theodore’s tonight. Never a cover and the best bbq in town!

The Apple Jam starts tonight in Bondsville, MA. If you love good music and like your festivals to be on the smaller more intimate level this one’s for you! Only $40 at the gate.

Saturday Shenanigans:

The Marks Brothers will be at The Austrian Donau Club in New Britain.

The Alchemystics are teaming up with Satellite Rockers to blow the doors off Tammany Hall in Worcester. $10 at the door. Doors open at 9pm. Music starts at 10pm.

The Apple Jam continues Saturday with a killer line-up – The Kings, Mutherload, and South Catherine Street Jug Band will all be rocking out along with many more. When’s the last time you paid only $40 for a festie??

Giggles and Such:

Have a great weekend!