Your "flies" are down!

I realized the last time I wrote a blog was forever ago. That's because I have been living it up in the Dairy State. Between work, a social calendar filled to capacity and needing to sleep, the blog updates were not on my mind. However, I am home from Memphis, been up since 3:30 in the morning (passing some time because I don't want to go to sleep at 7 pm) and now watching my Yankees lose to the O's -this seems like a prime opportunity to update you all about the fly population here in Northeast Wisconsin. 

When I first moved here, Wisconsonites asked me if I knew about the lake flies. I shrugged it off, just listened, and nodded, only to witness first hand how disgusting these flies are. 

Jim and I bought a house across the street from Lake Winnebago. Prime location for these annoying little crane like flies. We were throwing our first BBQ and I looked out my sun porch to our outdoor porch to see our beige patio furniture brown. At first I thought a bunch of birds went to town, but after more careful examination, I realized the brown was an endless sea of lake flies. They were everywhere - on the house, on the screens, in the plants...however, the absolute worst is when you look out in the yard and all you see is a haze. That haze ladies and gentlemen is not smog (this isn't the concrete jungle), but instead thousands of these flies. 

Jim and I jumped in our car, drove to Home Depot and bought tons of bug spray. We sprayed the crap out of our yard and house. Those chemicals did keep the flies somewhat at bay and also killed any plants that were by my house. This was a sacrifice I was willing to make in order to have a "fly free" flip cup session. For those who think the spray and citronella candles were sufficient...think again. Apparently, these flies love light as well. 

 

Swarms and swarms of these flies live for about 2 weeks.  They don't bite and simply just fly around people vicariously living through humans since they only have a tiny life expectancy.  They hatch around Mother's Day and last till the beginning of June. This year according to the natives, was a slow year. Usually they have to hold their breathe, cover their face and run to their house. If my car is any indication, these lake flies also love asphalt and the open road. Guess they didn't live their full 2 weeks!  

I am happy to report - Northeast Wisconsin is currently lake fly free! 

Madison Square Garden anyone?

It's not exactly the Garden, but the Performing Arts Center in Appleton has some major perks. 

Last Friday, Jim bought tickets for us to go see Colin and Brad from Whose Line Is It Anyway!  It was a fantastic, hilarious show, all for a great cause - (Cancer research). The show was in downtown Appleton, WI at the Performing Arts Center.  Many shows and orchestral performances are held here. It's no Madison Square Garden, but then again, Appleton is no New York, but it is a one of a kind gem. 

The PAC has so many perks. Perks that MSG or even PNC can't hold a light to. Here's a list of AMAZEBALLS attributes this little center has:

#1. 2 dollar parking. Yes, you read that correctly... 2 dollar garage parking. 

#2. No security or pat down. There was no metal detectors, no security, no pat  downs and no one going through your personal belongings. 

#3. 5 dollar drinks. Enough said...

#4. Pre-ordered intermission drinks that are still only 5 dollars. At intermission, instead of waiting in line, Jim and I went to the assigned table and simply picked up our drinks. 

#5. No service. There was no cell phone service inside the center. This was fantastic. No worries about a phone going off or even people tweeting, using facebook or texting during a show you paid money for. You know, enjoying life instead of needing to communicate through technology. - The old days of enjoying life. 

#6. Small, intimate, comfortable theater. Yes, you won't see The Boss perform here, but the size is sufficient enough to bring great performances like Jersey Boys to WI.  

#7. The tickets cost a little less then what it would cost to park in NYC. 

#8. Sippy drink cups. Yep, we're fancy. 

So, if you are ever in the Appleton area drop me a line and maybe we can swing by the PAC to see Hart or even Dirty Dancing The Musical- because no one puts Appleton in the corner!  

It's official

You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl!    

Snowmageddon?

Ok, since I decided to write this, I know Mother Nature will finally realize I don't live on the East coast anymore. However, I just wanted to send out a few well wishes to all my friends on the East coast. Ride out this nor'easter and stay safe. 

Yes, Wisconsin has been cold. Not as cold as last year I have been told, but definitely colder than what NJ or NY has seen since I have lived there. One thing WI hasn't seen a lot of?... SNOW!  I think my neck of the Midwest has seen maybe 8 inches of snow total since the winter has started. My mom saw 8 inches of snow last Saturday alone. Besides not having any snow, the sun also forgot where the Fox Cities are located on the map. I know that the winter is usually depressing, but the East coast does see sun once and a while. Hey Wisconsin, take note. 

The western area of NJ, good luck with your 6-12 inches of additional snow. Eastern area of NJ, NY and Boston friends, good luck with the blizzard and the additional 20-30 inches of snow. 

I will go on record and say that WHEN we (WI) gets a freak snow storm in August, you can absolutely blame me since that bitch Mother Nature has finally found me. 

New year, new state, new and old friends

A lot has changed since January 2014. Some good, some bad, but all leading towards a life I am grateful for. I don't know what 2015 has in store for me, but I will always be true to myself. I will live life independently, with love for my friends and family all while taking life day by day and not for granted. 

I am especially thankful for the friends that have welcomed me to Wisconsin and my friends back on the east coast. I had a wonderful end to 2014 by introducing some of my closest NJ friends to my new midwest friends. Being surrounded by friendly, welcoming new and old people was extremely reassuring.   

Celebrating the ball drop twice (though we missed the second one) with some fantastic people, gave me such great hope and happiness for a year of uncertainties, possibilities and adventures. 

Thank you to Craig, Arnel, Kerry, Anita, Adria, Genevieve, Caleb, Janelle, Eric, Megan, Mary, Mike, and Eric for celebrating the new year with Jim and I. The Jersey Shore dance party, beer pong, Indian, cards against humanity, laughter, and prom poses made for an unforgettable night. I hope you all had a great time as much as Jim and I did. 

Here's to 2015. May it bring everyone happiness, health and wealth. 

Merry Friendmas

Moving to a new state is hard enough. Especially if you lived only in one high pace expensive state all your life. Relocating from the east coast to the Midwest was a sense of unknown. Plus, not knowing one single person added to the anxiety. I left my family and my close friends to a state of brand new expectations and anticipations only to find a new family and my second home. 

I am unbelievably lucky to have gotten the opportunity to meet some fantastic people. My GP crew is not only extremely welcoming, but the absolute definition of friendly. 

Anita, Adria, Stephanie, Ayanna, Kaley, Sara, Arinne, Genevieve, Janelle, Aimee and Mary- thank you for being so welcoming, helping me feel comfortable and accepting me in your lives. You all have made my transition easier and for that I am very grateful!  

It also helps that they love to have fun!  YOLO! 

This is Christmas season at the mall?

Jim and I had to go to the mall to pick up a few decorations for Christmas and to shop a little for presents. We were dreading it since we are born and raised New Jersians. Home of the malls, awful jammed parking lots, crazy drivers, and mothers who are dilerious and run over your feet with their strollers filled with their  12 kids. 

We ate first making sure we had enough protein and energy to get us through this ordeal. We pull up to the mall and at first we thought it was closed. Where were the cops directing traffic?  Where was the blinking traffic lights?  Where were the cones to block exits and entrances?  Screw that, where were the cars?  We pulled into the main mall entrance to the second spot. And no, I didn't need to wait in line or follow a shopper to their car to get that spot. It literally was open. Along with the thousand of other parking spots. We walked in the mall and on the loud speaker an employee paged another employee. "Mike, dial 8632".  This shouldn't be too difficult to identify the "Mike" since there was only about 10 people in the department store. And 3 of them were named Jim, Danielle and Craig. 

Jim and I walked into the main section of the mall. There were no screaming kids, no lines going out the door, no pushing, no shoving, no people. We were in awe. Jim and I kept saying, "Can you imagine Garden State Plaza today, 3 days after Black Friday?"  It would be a zoo. This mall was like a spa retreat. I am not sure if this calmness is because today is Cyber Monday, or if this is how it normally is?  Either way I am stoked!  Just from my past experience, when someone told me the mall was crowded, it didn't even compare to the Livingston Mall right before 10 pm. That is even more crowded!  

Don't believe me, today I did something so stupid and unlike me. You see, when I left my car to go into the mall, I absolutely forgot to close my door. 2 hours later we returned only for me to find my door wide open and NOTHING taken. Not my Vogue sunglasses, not the bags in the trunk, not my Michael Kors jacket, or my headphones. Only in Wisconsin!