I said 2021 needed to chill, not FREEZE the South!

So obvi with COVID still running rampant Mardi Gras was cancelled.  Well the parades and formal parties were canceled and I get it, but b**ch you cannot take MY holiday!  

I love holidays but Halloween and Mardi Gras are my FAVORITES.  So even if I can't parade and get silly with my family & peeps, I am still celebrating...in place.  

On Kings day I decorated.  I have Purple, Green, & Gold lights, a Mardi Gras Wreath, and countless beads and Mardi Gras  stuff all over.  It makes me happy.  I mean 80% of my decor was caught from floats over the years but it works.   

We are still doing the King Cake thing because who the eff cancels King Cake?!?!  And on Mardi Gras  Day we had plans to sit on a porch and people watch because although all the $hit is shut down you know there will be people roaming the streets looking at House Floats and other decor.  And we were probably going to go looking for House Floats ourselves.  

Oh right and that's something we did too.  We couldn't go to parades so THOUSANDS of houses became floats you can visit on your own time AND City park did a reverse parade.   Floats in the Oaks, where you drive past the parade.  Look you can "officially" shut it down but you can't kill our spirit.  Mardi Gras is our holiday, we will figure out a way to still have SOMETHING!

I mean look at this, this is SE LA.

But wait...look at the US.

It all over the world. Not as much as down here but look at the Mardi Gras spirit everywhere!!! God, I love my City...sometimes haha

https://www.kreweofhousefloats.org/map

Moving on.  We've had cold Mardi Gras.  We've had years where just catching a pair of beads caused immense pain because your hands were basically frozen.  But this year is about to be a record year for cold.  As of right now when we wake up on Mardi Gras Day it will be 26 degrees with wind chills in the upper teens.  Pardon me but do we know we live in the South?  Like the DEEP SOUTH!  

So Monday we will be shut down for Icy Roads..again.  Hopefully not this far South but only 20 miles west of us they will have possible snow so WTAF Mother Nature?!?!?!

Like I said 2021 needs to...let's go with calm the f**k down! Whatever, I am celebrating something so happy Mardi Gras y'all!

I think I lost a nipple

In recent travels I started writing on the opaque shower walls.  Like once it’s steamed up I write “I know what you did”, “your husband knows”, or just “I know”.  You might says it’s pointless because they clean after every guest...true but I feel there is a height limit to the shower cleaning....like above the head, it’s good unless noticeably dirty.

Anyways, I am currently on a getaway trip with the sig other.  We have this....shower.  It’s super nice. Big enough for four 😳 with two wall shower heads and a rainfall head above.  The problem....the water temp is either Loki’s nipple or Hades hot tub....there is no in between!  So I either 

or

.....looks like I’m losing skin this trip.

Not to mention, for a five star hotel, the water takes FOREVER to warm up! Once it got to Dante’s inferno I realized only one head was working.

After fiddling with a knob, the rainfall started but it was freezing cold *shrill scream*. I stepped in once it was around the surface of the sun.

But why is that other wall just dribbling...?

FINE I only need two heads!

After my skin adjusted to the boiling waters of hell, I began to enjoy my multi head shower.

I was bent over shaving a leg when that stupid third head decided to join in the fun. By sending a powerful blast of ice water straight at my tatas.

The spray was coming out so hard it covered the entire shower area.  Opening the door would have soaked the bathroom.  I finally plastered myself against the opposite wall and tried to turn it off. 

Every direction I turned the knobs just adjusted the two original heads.  This mutant shower head was unaffected. 

It eventually warmed up to cooling lava but the stream was so strong it exfoliated...well everything and I was still covered in soap.

I did my best impression of a speed showerer and somehow managed to finally turn off the water.

I have no idea what happened but looking at the head, I think a piece popped out that controls the intensity of the water.  I’m now bright red, half shaved, with a knotted mess of hair...but hey, at least I’m clean....

Seriously...ANOTHER "Snow" Day

What is happening?!?!  Yesterday it "warmed" up to like the 50's.  This morning it was 42 when I woke up.  By this afternoon it will drop 10+  degrees...WHAT?!?!  Overnight 22 degrees...with a 30% chance of snow.  I mean nothing "sticking" but JFC that's frigid!

Have I mentioned I live in the DEEP SOUTH?  Maybe once or twice...maybe I should say it LOUDER!  We get snow (flurries) every 10-15 years not THREE TIMES in two months.  WTF?!?

So yea tomorrow we are shutting down again because we can't function in the cold...obviously.

Link

Then I saw this from yesterday, I think....(that pink area is in central LA right now)

Ummmmm.  That...is it just me....?

Its funny because we will have a layer of white stuff...right...right... Mother Nature about to...never mind....if I don't laugh I'll cry.

I'm going burrow under some blankets and snuggle with my dogs.

**UPDATE** there is now a 90% chance of snow...not snow showers...SNOW from 9PM-2AM...WTF?!?!?!

My nipples could cut glass!

TMI...?  Sorry. 

So I ran in the Louisiana 5k and Half this weekend.  On Saturday when we woke up it was 32 degrees but it "felt like" 24 degrees...I think it warmed up to 34 by race time.  On Sunday it was 24 degrees when we woke up but "felt like" 18...I think it warmed up to 27 degrees by race time.  Why do we do this to ourselves?!?!  Oh right because we signed up months ago and this $hit is expensive!

Anyways, on Saturday we ran easy intervals and we were good.  I had on a tank, a long sleeve moisture wicking shirt, a Northface zip up, a Wearguard half zip, running gloves, a headband ear protector thingy, and a beanie.  I didn't remove ANY layers!!!  I know it was only 3.1 miles and if we'd have run more I probably would have stripped off a layer or two but that speaks VOLUMES to me.  As in...it was f**king cold! 

When we finished I was STARVING so we went eat the yummy food at the finisher festival. 

Seriously, if you ever come for the LA Marathon weekend, the finisher food is the BEST!

On Sunday, we ran a little harder...we were VERY ambitious with the intervals.  Before the start I stripped down to just a tank, a long sleeve moisture wicking shirt, a zip up running jacket, running gloves, a headband ear protector thingy, and a beanie.  It was f**king cold!  The ONLY thing I removed was the beanie.  Again that speaks volumes.  We were running pretty hard but it was so cold we didn't take any other layers off.  There was a point where it felt like I had leggings on under my running leggings because my thighs were numb.  My face hurt.  My lungs HURT.  It was like we couldn't get enough oxygen in because the air was cold and burned.  After the 7-8 mile mark we slowed down significantly because breathing while running hurt and we couldn't catch our breath.  Some people may have been fine but many of us were not. 

When we finished we were okay for about 5 minutes and then we were FREEZING.  Thank goodness we had some layers to put back on after.  I was so cold my teeth were chattering.  Even in the sun, I just couldn't get warm. 

I wasn't even hungry.  I just did 13.1 miles and didn't even feel a little grumble.  I got food, of course, and I ate as much as I could convince my stomach I needed but it wasn't much.  And the food was soooooooo delicious...but I was just too cold...argh! 

Even after taking the hottest shower I could stand, I don't think I actually felt warm until 4 or 5 that evening. 

I wasn't hungry until I got to my Dad's for the Saints game at 3:45 ish and I wasn't even that hungry...just a little peckish.  My body was MAD about the whole below freezing running thing.  I was coughing too and was worried I got myself sick.  But apparently you can "freeze " your trachea and lungs with cold air and exertion if you don't cover your face.  Symptoms are fatigue, coughing, losing your voice, and generally feeling like poo.  GREAT!  I feel better now but geesh! We don't have face cover thingys...its not usually this cold down here!

Anyways, I've done races in the cold before..slightly below freezing before but this was different and this race was way longer.  So now I can say I ran a half in below freezing temps...in LOUISIANA no less.  Would I do it again?  Probably.  But I would buy a face cover thingy. 

I can't contain her...she is breaking freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

No no no ...not an Alien (check please)....my inner fangirl...she is trying to escape

In 3 days-ish I'll be at WWNOLA.  Yay!!!!!!!   I missed last year (boooooooooo) but we got our tix for this year (yaaaaaaaay).

I'd be excited just for that but I am suuuuuuuuuuuuper excited about my photo op.  I try not to be weird but I am totally being weird.  He's one of my favorite actors! 

I'm sure I'd be the same way if I took a pic with any of my other favs.  Probably.  More than likely.  Yea, no, for sure.  I mean I wanted to meet Stan Lee

but $120 for his signature.......I'm good.

And apparently there is a panel.  I didn't know we had panels.  I don't remember panels.  I am going to attempt to attend said panel.  I've never been to a panel.  I'm going to stop saying panel.......PANEL. 

Nah...okay maybe a little...shhhhhh

Anyways, I'm having a moment...Ex-cah-uuuuuuuse me! 

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Its still in the 30's down here, I think my brain is a bit frozen so I'm going wrap myself in more blankets and attempt to type...I can't feel my fingers!

SIDE NOTE - I just read this in the "rules"....."❿ There is absolutely no personal photography, no videography and no autographs in the photo bay. No exceptions. Also absolutely no kissing of the guests or asking to be kissed by them."
Is that something people do or did?!?!?!  That's creepy weird...DON'T BE CREEPY WEIRD. Remember, these are REAL people...with REAL lives...REAL families...that's just.......

Send help - I've turned into a popsicle

So  Mother Nature decided we didn't have enough with the Snow and Ice a few weeks ago.  So she sent us a "Winter Weather Event".  Oooo sounds fun, who is headlining?

Right, so NOT fun.  Yo, I live in the DEEP SOUTH!  DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP South.  It is 28 f**king degrees outside and the sun is out.   But wait there's more.  There is a "windchill".  Usually that takes off a few degrees...

A few...a few... the "windchill" makes it feel like 18 in the sun....12 in the shade.  Pardon me...WHAT?!?!!?  Am I in the North...?  Where's the Nightwatch...are the Whitewalkers coming?

Yea yea yea it is WAY colder "up north" but that doesn't make my little Summer Loving self any happier!  I let the pups out to potty and there was steam.  Both looked confused and a bit concerned.  "Mom...MOM!  My butt is smoking...something has gone horribly wrong!"

So yea we took precautions.  I don't care what some people say.  You leave a faucet dripping...just dripping.  If you don't you may have an issue.  "But that decreases water pressure".  You know what else decreases water pressure...?  A BUSTED F**KING PIPE.  Leave a drip, wrap your exposed outside pipes and faucets, let the pets in, protect the plants...and just stay home if you can!

Then I saw this:

Link

I already have on  fleece leggings, knee high thick @$$ socks, two shirts, a furry vest thing, a scarf, and a hat...I AM INSIDE!!! With the heater on....

When I went outside I had on that plus a leather jacket, leather boots, and leather gloves.  Its supposed to get colder tonight to tomorrow...

Next time I complain about the heat....someone slap me because this below freezing $hit....

Go home Mother Nature...you are DRUNK!

Southern States don't really have a true winter.  I mean like it gets cool...ish but rarely do we have Hard Freeze Warnings for the Entire state...especially the SE portion of it.  I mean it happens but its not often and when it does...if there is Ice/Sleet/Snow we can't function.  And its usually once in the season for like a day or two.

Thankfully this time the rain stopped BEFORE the temps dropped too much so the Ice/Sleet/Snow was not a factor for the most part. 

But you see I had races this weekend...BECAUSE I AM CRAZY.  I had to bow out of the one Saturday *whew* but Sunday I still ran. 

Now mind you when I checked the weather forecast on Thursday it said  "Saturday 39 with a windchill of 34" and "Sunday 43 with a wind chill of 38".  Okay that is f**king cold BUT we got this...right.  I checked it Friday evening and it said "Saturday 34 with a windchill of 28" and "Sunday 39 with a wind chill of 34"... 

I woke up Saturday morning...

WTF?!?!?  Glad I'm staying home...

You might be thinking that is just a thin layer of ice over water...NOPE!  It is a frozen solid 5" puddle (shut up that is significant down here).  I stood on it.  It cracked a little but it held my weight....So yea, I had on my heater but I also had on  leggings, sweat pants, two long sleeve shirts, and a sweat shirt.  I was still f**king cold...so I basically spent my Saturday under a blanket on the couch with two dogs and two cats huddled for warmth.  I am southern...I am not made for this!

From Hyperbole and a Half (not mine)

So Sunday I get up to run 5.59 miles and see this...

Oh come on now!  F**k you Mother Nature!!!  So yea I ran in this.  The issue isn't the running.  Once you get started (and can finally feel you feet), you warm up significantly.  The issue is when you stop.  Because when you stop, you are sweaty and its still below freezing.  So yea I froze my @$$ off waiting for my friend (which wasn't long) and froze further trying to get some Jambalaya and Beer.  I went home and took the hottest shower I could stand...it took me 30 minutes to warm up in the shower.  Basically I was a human Popsicle.

Yes yes yes I know other people run in sub zero Bull$hit and run in this type of weather all the time but as I've stated before...I.am.Southern....we aren't used to this.  I can handle a cool run but freezing...f**k that...BURR!

What sucks is because we were so cold after the race, I didn't get to go to WWNOLA this year *wah*.  I really wanted to do the autograph thing with at least Stephen Amell and/or Christopher Lloyd.