August 10 11

Back before I had this amazing new job that I absolutely love…

(WAIT. Can we talk about that for just a second? Because, really, we need to talk about it. We need to talk about how just ridiculously, embarrassingly happy I am right now. Sure, there are days when I dread hearing my alarm going all “Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in…” and I dread hauling my tired ass into the shower and there’s nothing I’d rather do than crawl back into bed and spend the day watching soap operas and eating cereal and not put on pants of any kind. But, there is really something to be said about having a job that you love. And I love my job. I create content all day long. I get to talk to people about things like strollers and carriers and I get to research back-to-school gear and fashions and I get to weigh in on things like suggestive 10-year-old models and girls wearing bikinis and douche ads gone awry. And I do ridiculous things like eat pizza with Tori Spelling‘s boobs and spend hours in meetings discussing boat makers. I get to work with people I like, nay, love. I get to have inside jokes about the Joseph Fiennes lookalike and how funny it is that I don’t know how to make tea. I have the loveliest of bosses who gives me feedback, both constructive and good-for-the-ego. And here’s the real kicker. I AM GOOD AT MY JOB. Well, there’s your schmaltzy bit for today. I hope you enjoyed it.)

…the Martells were going to plan themselves a little road trip up the east coast of Canada. The husband and I had never been, and the Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea lover in me has always wanted to visit Prince Edward Island. So, when we looked online for some trip ideas, we found almost nothing. So, my better half—being far more clever than I—decided that if there are no good resources online for families wanting to discover the east coast, then hot damn, he’s going to MAKE A RESOURCE. And he did. He planned an almost 3-week trip after speaking with hotels and tourism boards and car companies. He built us an amazing adventure.

Only I can’t go. 

I mean, I could. But I would be using up more than all of my vacation days for an entire year and I have familial obligations that include Jewish holidays and Chrismukah vacations. So, no trip out east.

Until *this* happened.

“So, Ali, I think I’m still going to take the trip.”

“WHAT? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR EVERLOVING MIND?”

“Yes. Yes, I think I am.”

So, they are going. A chef dad, a 5th grader, a 4th grader and a 1st grader.

Next week, they set sail on their great east coast road trip of 2011 and they are leaving the worst traveler at home to fend for herself for eighteeen days.

EIGHTEEN DAYS!

I would be lying through my teeth if I told you I wasn’t envious. I am dying to see the east coast and spend this amazing time with my little ones before everyone goes back to school and we head head-first into classes and homework and swimming lessons and dance classes and play rehearsals and more homework. And I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t just a wee bit excited to have this time to myself. Mind you, I will still be working every day, but at night,

I get to come home and eat cereal for dinner, and watch soap operas, and finish the Harry Potter series, and never put on an episode of Full House, and never put on a pair of pants, and make an entire pan of chocolate chip cookie dough brownies and not share it with a single person, and drink a cup of water without someone stealing it, and take a million pictures with my brand new Canon 7D.

Unfortunately, though, I think that this excitement will last me about a day and a half.

So, help a girl out.

What would YOU do if you had many, many days on your own?

(and if you live in the GTA and you want to meet me for dinner, coffee, tea, movies, drinks, anything…I am clearly available.)

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  1. How about flying out for the PEI portion? Then enjoying the rest of your time to yourself.

    Comment by Erin@MultipleMusings on August 10, 2011
  2. OH! I forgot to tell you!! Said husband surprised me with weekend tickets to fly out to PEI so I can see both my family and live my dreams of seeing PEI! He = BEST.

    Comment by ali on August 10, 2011
  3. He IS the best!!

    I so wish I lived on your end of the country so that we could hang out. 🙂

    Comment by Angella on August 10, 2011
  4. First, let me say I love your blog. I am a friend of Becca’s and she is the best reminder of how awesome you are.
    18 days alone seems like a dream to me – I feel like as a Mom you never truly get alone time. If I had that much time, I would have to spend at least one day window shopping (leave my purse at home) without any “please buy me something” or “I’m bored” whining.

    Comment by Laurie on August 10, 2011
  5. That is an awesome trip. I’m jealous, too. I’m so excited you get to visit PEI, though.

    I want to come visit you, but since that’s virtually impossible right now, I suggest you spend a lot of time chatting with your girlfriends on Skype.

    Comment by Meghan on August 10, 2011
  6. Obviously, there will be some MAJOY skype-age happening 😉

    Comment by ali on August 10, 2011
  7. or MAJOR…

    Comment by ali on August 10, 2011
  8. SKYPE TIME! WHEEEEE!

    Comment by Jen on August 11, 2011
  9. I want in on this skypeage!

    I think you’re going to love it! And there will be a nice break when you go to visit them.

    NEW CAMERA! Spend the evenings downtown shooting your amazing city! You don’t have to be home for any reason! Browse the shops downtown! Go see a play!

    I’m jealous and I already live alone!

    Comment by Kristabella on August 10, 2011
  10. I forsee a new Skype chat room in our future! What should we call it?

    Comment by Meghan on August 11, 2011
  11. Dreamy… That is amazing. I would shop BY MYSELF, clean out my closet, throw away neglected toys. I would read outside EVERY DAY. Drink lots of coffee and red wine and SLEEP by myself. Wow. Can I move in with you for those 18 days? hahahaha! Enjoy yourself! I’ve always wanted to visit PEI. 🙂

    Comment by Sandy on August 10, 2011
  12. Eighteen days all to myself sound like Heaven. I’m sure it will go faster than you think. Have a great time when you meet them on the trip! 🙂

    Comment by mommabird2345 on August 10, 2011
  13. Sigh. I and Love and You. Totally obsessed.

    Comment by Laura on August 10, 2011
  14. I’m very impressed that they’re stopping in NB… In a few places in NB, even… We’re usually the drive-through province. So, thanks for that. 🙂

    Comment by Dave on August 10, 2011
  15. Kinda sad you aren’t going, but glad you get to go to PEI. You totally ave to watch Anne of Green Gables again, I did recently. 🙂

    Comment by Tammi Marie on August 10, 2011
  16. Eat LOTS of Ben & Jerry’s.

    Also, when did you start this fancy new job? Am I THAT behind on the Internet? I had no clue! Congrats!

    Also also, I went to PEI this summer and found it pretty overrated. (They’ve turned Green Gables into a theme park!) So, uh, you’re not missing out there at least.

    Comment by Camels & Chocolate on August 10, 2011
  17. The best of both worlds, you don’t have to drive 30 plus hours and you STILL get to have some time with your family in PEI .. awesome! BTW .. we did the road trip mtl-pei and it was great, they will have a fun time. And Green Gables when we went last summer was not a theme park .. still the old house etc, your girls will eat it up!! Make sure he heads to Cavendish beach .. a must! Also if he’s in Summerside there is an awesome community indoor pool with slide .. anyway, email me if you think he needs any ideas.
    ENJOY your time off, you’ll miss them but I’m sure you will find things to do lol :0

    Comment by sarah on August 11, 2011
  18. The trip looks awesome and blah blah blah…

    I think it is really effing awesome you have the Avett Brothers as your alarm song! Thank’s for getting that song stuck in my head this morning, I will be putting it on shortly. 🙂

    Comment by Hockeymandad on August 11, 2011
  19. It is also my ringtone 😉

    Comment by ali on August 11, 2011
  20. 18 days, swoon! My mind is swimming with what I’d do with that much free time (I have a 16 month old). If your husband needs any more input about the trip, I grew up in Fredericton, now live in Halifax, and am about to head to PEI on my own little roadtrip with the fam. Thanks for the Maritime shout out!

    Comment by Caroline on August 11, 2011
  21. […] I guess I now know what I will be doing for the next 18 days. […]

    Pingback by » A Little Pop Quiz For You Cheaper Than Therapy on August 16, 2011
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