Love & The Country #26 – Road Trip Adventures, New Friends, & Cards Against Humanity

Our adventure started late Friday morning when Neil and I headed to Baltimore after his dialysis treatment. We hit some VERY heavy rain, so heavy that not only was it hard to see the traffic around us, but the water gushing across the road made it difficult to switch lanes, you could feel the water pulling the vehicle, it was rather scary, so we pulled over at Sideling Hill & waited it out. Fortunately it didn’t take long for the storm to pass through and the sky to open up. We had steady rain for another 5 miles or so, but then it stopped and it was all sun for the rest of our trip.

Despite the delay we still made good time, and we made it to the hotel before rush hour. We stopped at one of our favorite places in Ellicott City along the way. Canopy, where you will have a fantastic pit beef or pit ham sandwich. Oh my gosh, it’s so good, & paired with their take on board walk fries makes for the most delicious of combinations. If you ever find yourself in Ellicott City, Maryland. I highly recommend you give them a try. There isn’t a place to sit inside, so prepare for a picnic, even if it’s on the hood of your car or the bed of your truck while sitting in the parking lot. I promise it’s worth it…so worth it!!

Pit Beef from Canopy, Ellicott City, MD

On Saturday Neil took me to Arbutus, his old stomping grounds. I had been there before, but we were still dating at the time. I haven’t been back since we’ve been married since we really had no reason to go. It was fun to drive down the streets and see the old comic book store that is still open for business, the one that Neil frequented as a kid & teenager. I can just imagine him walking from the comic book store to the corner market, ordering an Italian cold cut & a 20 oz. soda. Arbutus is also home to the best snowballs! For those of you who are not familiar with a snowball, it’s shaved ice with flavored syrup in a cup. Some people add soft serve to theirs, but I prefer mine with marshmallow fluff!! Traditional Egg Custard with marshmallow in the center & on top! It is the best treat, especially on a hot, summer day!

Neil recently reconnected with a friend from his teenage years, and he invited us to his housewarming party. It was fun visiting with him, his fiancé, named Kristen (she is now the 5^th “Kristen” in my circle, there are 6 of us, counting yours truly, & only 2 of them spell their name the same way.) And I also had the fortunate pleasure of meeting their beautiful daughter.

I made new friends that day & even had a salon owner compliment my makeup! I know it doesn’t sound like much, but after being so incredibly hard on myself lately, it was a very welcomed compliment and boosted my confidence a little.

A selfie I took on Saturday after feeling kinda pretty.

On Sunday we went out for brunch with Neil’s cousin Mary & her boyfriend. Mary is one of my favorite people on the planet! She is funny, nerdy, & so much fun!! I had bottomless mimosas, & a Chesapeake Benedict. A seafood Eggs Benedict with crab, shrimp, homemade biscuits, & old bay Hollandaise. It was so good!!

“The Chesapeake Benny” at the Broken Oar in Glen Burnie, MD

 

We went back to their house & played Cards Against Humanity, where the laughs continued. I laughed so hard, tears were streaming down my face, my stomach muscles felt like I had just done a hundred sit ups & my cheeks hurt from smiling so big. It was so much fun, and much needed.

One of my hands. The darker your humor, the better this game is!! It is so much fun!! *Please don’t take offense, this is all in good fun, I am in no way shape or form making light of a serious subject, or in actuality find anything about child abuse funny. It’s just a game.*

I was the card czar for this round. It was so hard to choose, all of these answers had me cracking up. It took me a good 2 minutes to catch my breath. I went with magnets. Something about the simplicity & the lack of sense made it hilarious to me!!

 

I love weekends like this past one. Road trips with my husband where we have deep talks about everything & nothing, dancing around in the passenger seat to music, singing at the top of my lungs, and watching the world pass as I try my hardest to snap pictures of the mountains & beautiful scenery. Days filled with laughter surrounded by friends & family, the people we love the most, making new friends, and eating delicious food!

Pictures of Mountain Maryland, taken from the passenger seat.

Despite the lack of sleep I’ve been experiencing for the past two weeks, I feel so refreshed after such a fantastic weekend!

Here’s to more days filled with laughter & fun!

Love & life lessons,

Kristian