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1. Snowboarding, Skiing or Tubing
Devon Lee
I have been snowboarding for the past nine years, and I am honestly so grateful to have had the opportunity to do so.
I mean, it's basically like sledding, but with a bit more danger, and besides, who doesn't love sledding?
I'm kidding, it's safer than that, calm down people.
But seriously, even though I have fallen on my ass and scorpioned, which is when you fall on your stomach and your snowboard comes very close to smacking your head, more times than I would like to admit, I look forward to going to the slopes every year.
If skiing or snowboarding does not seem enticing to you, tubing is always an option, too.
2. Ice Skating
Ice skating is a super fun activity to do with a bunch of friends and/or family.
When I was younger, my siblings, cousins and I used to go to the rink several times during winter break.
Just remember to wear gloves. Don't ask questions.
3. Baking cookies
Devon Lee
My younger sister is extremely artistic, so when we bake cookies, it's hardcore.
She makes a variety of different types, but I personally like it when she makes shortbread cookies that we can then decorate with royal icing.
Mine always turn out looking like shit, so we eat those, and display hers on the nice cookie stand but regardless of the looks, baking cookies always bring us together over the holidays.
4. Snowball fight
If you're in a climate where it snows a lot, this one is for you.
Now I'm not just talking about going outside and chucking snow at each other, oh no.
When my siblings and I have snowball fights, it's so much more than that. You have to build your own snow forts, make your snowball supply, create alliances. It is intense.
5. Blanket Forts
I know this may seem lame, but given the world of Pinterest, blanket forts are no longer just blanket forts.
They can be super nice and extremely cute. They are great to watch a movie in or just chill with friends and family.
Plus, what better way to bring people closer together than in a cozy fort of blankets?
1. "Why is the security line so long?"
Rude. Just rude. Come on people get moving.
2. "Which security line should I go on?"
Let's try to predict the rate of each line. Whichever is fastest, that is the one.
3. "I'm not going to make my flight because of this security line"
Yup. This is it. This is the end. Going to miss my flight. Never going to get there.
4. *TSA yells* "Please don't yell at me. I hate being yelled at."
Please don't. I'm serious.
5. "Got to be quick or I'll hold up the security line"
I'm going my fastest. I swear. I'm already so nervous.
6. "Oh my god they hate me. Everyone hates me on the security line"
I'm sorry I'm so slow. Please don't hate me.
7. "Why do I have to take my shoes off?"
I'm uncomfy about my feet.
8. "These plastic bins stress me out"
I need three. I feel like I'm taking up the whole line. Everyone definitely does hate me.
9. "I hope my bag isn't too heavy."
Yikes. I forgot to weigh it. Hoping for the best.
10. "Rolling carry ons are so fun"
I feel like a superstar rolling my bag around on a mission.
11. "I wonder how many people pass through this airport daily."
For real though. How many? Like at 5 a.m. there is already over a few hundred.
12. "I wish these horizontal conveyor belts existed EVERYWHERE."
Life would be awesome. I could get from point A to point B without taking a step or moving at super speed.
13. "When are we going to board?"
When? Didn't they say we would board like ten minutes ago.
14. "Why aren't we boarding now?"
Let's go already. I got places to be and people to see.
15. "How come I always get delayed?"
Every. single. time. Why me?
16. "Will I ever not get delayed?"
I just want to get to a place in a timely manner for once.
17. "I just want to get there already."
Can we skip the flying part?
18. "WHY do I have to check my bag at the gate?"
How is there not enough carry on storage on the plane? They should fix that.
19. "I wonder where they are going."
What's their purpose for being at the airport at the same exact time as I am?
20. *Gets to airport three hours early just in case* "I got here way too early."
Nervous habit.
21. "Do I have time to go to the bathroom?"
I board in five minutes, but I really do not want to use the plane bathroom.
22. "Should I buy this $5 water?"
How much money do I have in my bank account?
23. "I'm going to buy this $5 water. I need it."
I might die of thirst I need it.
24. "Who still buys magazines?"
So many magazines in the airport. Who actually still buys them?
25. "They have some random shops at this airport."
Never heard of that store before. What do they sell?
26. "Why are you hogging the charging station? I need it."
Just need some power in my devices before this plane ride.
27. "Hopefully I'm not sitting next to a crying baby."
Please I beg. I just want to sleep.
28. "I do NOT want the middle seat."
Window or aisle. No in-between please.
29. "Please call my zone already."
Call me now. Please. I want to go.
30. "Why is everyone lining up already? What's the rush? We are all going to the same place anyways."
We all will get the plane. I swear.
We are all in the same boat at the airport.
But even though we were having a grand time, we missed our cats.
Like, a lot.
Thankfully they were left in the loving care of my forever best friend, who took care of their needs while also giving them lots of love and attention in the comfort of their own home (we had a terrible experience boarding them when we went on our honeymoon. They both came back with fleas and Bibi had a gash on her nose).
Bibi looking pensive and Millie looking extra Phoebe LaFave
When we got home, Millie rushed right over to me. I picked her up and she wrapped her front paws around my neck and gave me kisses. Bibi, who adores my husband and lovingly tolerates me took a little while to forgive us for leaving. But by the end of the night, they were relaxed back into our normal routine.
When you go over a week cat-free, you kind of forget something about being cat owners: they are in complete control.
That thought hit me, as I was sitting sideways on the couch watching Downton Abbey on my laptop, with my arms outstretched flicking a ribbon in one hand, and a piece of yarn in the other, making it so Bibi and Millie were on opposite sides of the couch batting at their respective toy.
Speaking of cat toys, sitting in our living room is a mesh tunnel and a crinkly-velvety pouch/mat thing that we had to get in the hopes that Millie would play with toys instead of terrorizing Bibi (it rarely works). I absolutely hate the way it looks, but I shudder to think what she would do in its absence.
Millie in her tunnelPhoebe LaFave
Let them out once, and you just entered into a lifetime binding contract.
I made the mistake of letting Millie have outside time. She would always dart outside when we got home from work, so I figured it couldn't hurt to let her have some time to lay in the grass. *Facepalm.* Now, every single day when we get home she incessantly screams at the door. And because her crying over and over and over again is soul-crushing, she always gets her way. Six times out of 10 it's not an issue and she just rolls around on the pavement and chomps on grass. The other four times she darts across our complex, or under parked cars, causing us to sprint after her or crawl under our neighbor's vehicles. Bibi comes out occasionally but is usually overwhelmed after 20 seconds.
Outside now?Phoebe LaFave
The biting.
Both are guilty of it, but Millie is the worst when it comes to biting. Today she was all snuggled up at the end of the bed, purring and being all cute. I leaned down to kiss her cheeks like I normally do, and bam, bites me right on the nose, breaking the skin. She'll clearly want rubbings, and then will just snap and bite you. Bibi on the other hand only bites when she wants your attention or is being playful, which we do not encourage because, oww.
Bibi is normally so well behaved though. She is my husband's cat through and through and her favorite spot is anywhere that he is.
Headbutts = LovePhoebe LaFave
Which is why, if our door is closed for the night, she will paw at the door making a "swish, swish, swish, swish" sound for literally a full hour. I wish I was using hyperbole, but I'm really not. This girl is determined. And because it's impossible to go to sleep with the steady sound of paws scraping at the door, we let her in. And the cycle continues on, and on, and on.
Millie is our forever kitten.
Both are high maintenance, but Millie is "special." She was clearly the runt of the litter, as she's always been small and has a slew of health problems (asthma, bowel issues (blech), and has had light-induced seizures). She was clearly taken away from her mother too soon, she suckled on my finger for the first year of her life and a vet once said that she doesn't know how to communicate with other cats which is why she has never really been able to get along with others. But, with all of her quirks and moments of meanness, she also will decide it's time for cuddles and plop herself onto one of our laps, chests, legs, or pressed between us.
Pro tip, put your legs on the coffee table and your cat now has a hammockPhoebe LaFave
Bibi is a genius.
Bibi the Beautiful Phoebe LaFave
Roll your eyes, make fun of me, I don't care. Bibi is the smartest cat I've ever met. My husband adopted her when she was no more than eight weeks old. She imprinted on him instantly and ever since is in tune with him in a way that I have never seen. If he's stressed or upset, she places herself right on his lap. She has figured out how to open doors, she knows the sound of our cars, and I swear understands what we say to her as she truly listens to commands.
Add in generic cat stuff like: knocking anything and everything in reach off of flat surfaces, marking their territory, chewing on shoes and purses, demanding more food even though there's clearly enough in the dish, and randomly yelling at you, I think it's safe to say cats are in charge of us more than we are of them.
And they're so darn cute there's nothing you can do about it.
1. Falling in water
GiphyYou never mean to fall in, but sometimes it happens. Once a year one of the dock hands are going to fall in, especially if you have floating docks on a windy day.
2. Being told you're wrong
GiphyYou can be doing everything right when helping a boat dock, and still be told you're doing something wrong. Boaters are very picky when it comes to how their lines are tied up. More than once a couple will be docking together and they will miscommunicate with each other and blame it on you.
3. Mayflies
You might call them fishflies, shadflies, Canadian soldiers, or mayflies. Whatever you call them they're incredibly annoying. They're an aquatic insect, so they love to hang around marinas. They only last about two weeks and each one only lives about a day. They love any lights, so at each pedestal on the docks is full of them. When you walk by or try to spray them off, they swarm and stick on you. The only redeeming quality that they have is that they don't bite or sting.
4. Sweat
GiphyYou're scrubbing the docks and sprinting to catch boats all days. You are going to sweat, and the best thing to do is embrace it.
5. Bad tan lines
GiphyIt's almost impossible to not notice your collared shirt, Bermuda short, and Sperry Top Sider tan lines.
6. Sprinting
GiphyIt doesn't matter if every boat called you on the VHF to tell you they're coming in, you will need to sprint from one side of the marina to the other at one point.
7. Spiders
GiphyThe electrical pedestals on the dock are going to be filled with spiders of all different sizes. We have to go out every day to get rid of all the cob webs. Personally I used to hate spiders, but because of this job I'm no longer afraid of them.
8. Talking on the VHF
GiphyBefore most boats enter the marina, they will call the marina on the VHF radio. You have to be comfortable enough to answer knowing that all other marinas in the area can hear you.
