Checkin' off the list...

Well, as you all have figured out (either by reading this or just my lack of being in the states) I am back in Switzerland. For better or worse. I miss everyone, everything, in the states, but the show must go on (I should have prepared you for my big use of clichés here…my apologies).

But nonetheless, I have been wondering…before coming home, I had made this quite detailed list of things that needed to get done. How did I do? Well, let’s take a look…

From the November 30 post “What to do…the Home Edition”:

While at home, I have to...

√ Perform "The longest hug EVER" in O'Hare International (oh, it was…)
√ Hang out with my family and friends! (seriously, like everyday…from just hanging out at home, to going to play bingo (we don’t mess around!), to trying to go to bowling but then being shutdown by the mean guy at the bowling alley, we did it all)
√ Webbs? (3 times…there were two days in a row, too…fun times!)
√ A Wicked Chicago Excursion (not to the extent, but Missy and I did get Jessi down there!!! Congrats first timer!)
√ Walk aimlessly through Wal-Mart (c'mon, I miss it!) (Yea, this was a day 2 thing…wow. Literally, I looked at EVERYTHING! Do I need furniture? No, but why not take a look!)
√ Target, as well (yea, same story…but this time with Julie…hahaha)
√ Catch up on "the shows" (not enough, but I definitely tuned in)
√ Play with the niece for a good 4 days straight (not straight, but we did get some quality time in…I mean, she didn’t really remember me at all, but you know, that’ll take some time again)
√ Assist Jessi in planning the Wedding of the Year (next year that is...) (I went to a wedding show…that’s all I’m saying…)
√ Literally sit in my room and do absolutely nothing (waking up in my bed for the first time in months…yea, this happened…just sitting there for a good hour…it was nice)
√ Use the oven (again, I miss it!) (you had better believe it! Regular oven AND toaster oven…I felt empowered!)
√ Cook A LOT for the fam and friends (yes, I cooked a lot, but if you look later in the list, I had a lot of places to eat, so this didn’t really happen as much as I envisioned…)
√ Drive...a lot... (dude, I ran errands for the family willingly…it was SO nice to drive!)
√ Play with niece some more! (don’t have to ask me twice)
√ Texas Wedding! (Oh soooo much fun! *see previous posts*)
√ Do not think about the current school situation while planning my future years (dude, I just put it out of my mind that I had to return…and it worked!)
√ Make people laugh/smile (c’mon it’s me…daily, of course!)
√ Watch good ol' movies including "Clue" (saw a few, but not “Clue…dangit!)

While at home, I have to EAT...

- Pumpkin and cream cheese bread (NO idea where this came from, but doesn't that sound AMAZING!?!?) (yea, didn’t really pursue this one…and now it sounds delicious again…blurg…)
- Bacon and horseradish dip (same explanation as above) (and again, same explanation)
- Anything but pasta (I lied, the first thing that I made when I got home were lo mien noodles…whoops!)
√ A hot dog (same explanation as the Wal-Mart item)
√ Gramma's pork and potatoes (mmm....) (dude, she actually read this, and before heading down to Florida, actually baked this for me…you rock!)
- Apple / lemon meringue pie (ok, she didn’t quite take this hint, but 1 outta 2 ain’t bad!)
√ Nachos (thanks to my friends at Taco Bell)
√ FAST FOOD! (Oh how I missed thee the most) :
√ Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich with a medium fruit punch and a Caesar Salad (one of the first things…)
√ Culver's Buffalo Chicken Tenders with cheese curds and a vanilla shake (like twice)
√ McDonald's double cheese burger Mighty Kids meal with a blue PowerAde (just snuck this one in, but yes it happened)
- Burger King onion rings (OK, NO idea how this one slipped under the radar)
- Quizno's...anything... (same here…oy)
- Noodle's & Co. Japanese pan fried noodles with chicken, lemonade, and flatbread (guess I lied about the "No pasta" thing...but Noodles & Co. is always an exception!) (dude, I am striking out here!)
√ Starbuck's Holiday Drink (the peppermint hot chocolate...yummo) (Ok, this one I had…yummo!)
- Pretzel Maker original salted pretzel with honey mustard (mouth watering, but apparently not at the time)
- ABC Chicken salad sandwich with salad/soup (didn’t even have time to go…soooo sad)
√ Great Wrap's Tupelo Turkey on a spinach wrap with fries and lemonade (lunch with Jessi and Julie)
- JIMMY'S GROTTO pepperoni ponza rota!!! (I actually tried, but got lost…must try again in the spring!)
- Barbierie's (SP?) pizza and garlic bread...yummo! (Ok, no…but in my defense, I ate at Ann’s…almost equally as delish)
√ Tuna Casserole (made it myself at Ali’s…yummo fantastico!)
√ Chancery food (with my Mensa ladies)
- Chicken, cream of mushroom, and rice casserole (no…and why not?)
- Sunday ham, cole slaw, potato salad... (this one hurts…hmm…)
√ BP CHICKEN!!! (after visiting Jessi and church, what better to do!?)

Well, I think that was sufficient. In only 28 days, I was able to cross off all 18 off of the first part of the list, and 12 outta 25 on the food one…with only so many meals to go around, I think I did pretty well!

Me reasoning about lagging a little with the latter part of the list...Well, honestly, I was expecting myself to come home and be somewhat of a tourist. After a while, I realized, I was home, back to the old life. I wasn't pushing myself 24/7 to get special things accomplished, especially regarding food and such. Still, though, I am pretty happy with what I did get accomplished!