March Madness: The Plague, it's all about Rich & other things

March has been less than stellar when it comes to health and wellness in this household. However, life is marching on, and things are otherwise looking good (for some of us more than others).

• Ry caught his second cold of the year, and it dwindled...which eventually spread to Rich, then me. I now have the plague and have been up coughing nightly, despite taking two steroids and using my inhaler. Someone at worked told me I sounded like a badly raped chipmunk, and that is a fair characterization for me, unfair for the chipmunk.
• Rich is winding down a five-week run of the local theatre's musical production of 'Disaster,' which is the culmination of about a 2.5 month run of rehearsals and performances. He is tired, but...
• He is already switching gears and ramping up for his improv group's next performance!
• He celebrates turning 50 next week, so I'm throwing him a mini soiree of a few of his favorite things- tacos, tamales, chips and guacamole, Spanish rice and refried beans...and a murder mystery party for him and his friends. (The very next night, I also celebrate another 50th of my friend, so it'll be back to back celebrations.)
• To help celebrate, he's flying to CA next month to see a few shows with his brother. I'm glad he can go back 'home' solo and spend time with this brother, do things he likes to do, eat as many tacos as he wants, and come home loaded down with all the stuff I can't ship to Hawaii (suitcase full of New Balance shoes I've already had sent over there).
• And because he hasn't been spoiled enough lately- he got a new truck this month! The Honda Ridgeline, who has faithfully served us SO well, needed to be replaced, as it was the age of Ryan. He's pleased, and with this purchase, it's official- he has my dad's exact same truck, down to the color, and I have a close replica of my mom's white mini SUV (she has the RAV4 and I have an HRV). Haha. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  
  

Once Rich is back, he's committed to helping me purge the house and have our annual garage sale moved up a few months since we are overloaded with junk we moved from my parent's condo to our place in the interim. Ryan and Keni will split the monies, between car payments and a college fund. So they will be the muscle the day, and that will help alleviate my workload.

The rest of what's gone on this month:

It's spring break, and this used to mean a trip abroad for us, but since we were gone over the holidays, we don't have our next trip until summer (to SE Asia with a stop in Japan). Thankfully, a friend offered to take Ry and some of his friends out for the day, and they had a nice time watching their other friends at a tennis tournament.

My brother drove across the country a week or so ago and moved to VA. He had a few fun stops along the way, and I believe this was in Chicago. I am so glad he found this opportunity, as living on the E. Coast has been a bucket list item for us both. He beat me to it!

Rich with his new truck...the TRD.

Although it has suddenly gone from a prolonged and pleasant winter, it is not sweltering. Prior to this, we had nearly 1/3 of Mauna Kea covered in heavy snow. It was a beauty to see and enjoy her cool breezes.

Ryan met a few new 'friends' from Hiroshima at the Hiroshima Kenjin Kai New Years' party at the temple he regularly attends. Someday, it's possible he will visit the region to see where his ancestors hail from. This is not a group I would ever envisioned joining, but a friend invited us, and I'm glad she did. It's a nice group of people.

Rich mastered the messy art of making us okonomkiyaki since we have been missing it since our last winter trip! Yum! No more jonesing.

Oh the joys of early childhood! My niece had her school's color run the other week, and it looked like she had so much fun! Although I love the idea of Holi and Color Runs, I do not want to participate myself for very obvious OCD reasons.

Rich wrapping up his five weekend run of Disaster...

The girls on a date night with us...

And...someone finally had his braces removed! (No pic as I promised not to share the before and after pics on the socials) What was supposed to be 18 months, if someone had worn his bands faithfully, became about 29! He has since been fitted with a clear plastic retainer (which he says 'hurts' more than the braces, which demonstrates the need for it!) that is pretty darn cool. No more protruding wires!

I can't believe we are nearly 1/4 of the way through 2023, and in just two months, I will have a fifteen-year old. A fifteen year old who is still lazy, messy and a tad moody, so clearly I still have my work cut out for me.

Although I am tired and sick and out of shape, I am feeling good:

• I had my three year anniversary at work, with very positive recognition and extreme gratitude for all that I receive in return at my companies. Still the best job I've ever had and I'm so grateful to have it!
• My feet are 95% healed thanks to my elective laser therapy...soon, I can start training for longer runs again! I am soooo excited to do that, you have NO idea. Rich is bringing back a ton of new shoes I've ordered and had sent to CA, that won't ship here, in anticipation!
• My house...is not filthy. I cheated a bit- I hired my nephew to detail my car and manicure the lawns...and some cleaners to get the windows/floors/bathrooms done. It's never looked better. It won't last very long (a few weeks), but it's enough to put my mind at ease today.
• We are done with our two three tax filings for 2022- ours, Ryan's (he has a few separate filings) and the family business. I owe a not small amount, but I suppose that means we did okay...and should not complain. This is always a relief to be done early.
• With the volcano not actively erupting, the skies are clear, the air is clean, and we are enjoying some beautiful sunsets each night. Down with vog! (So sorry, Madame Pele)

That is definitely enough to be grateful for, and not take for granted! So we will close out March with gratitude, even if it was a little nutty. ;-)