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.)