They’re Baaccckkkk!!!!

Hola mu chachos!

It’s Friday!!!

And I couldn’t think of a better way to start off the weekend than with a bit of exciting news to share with you all….

You’ve waited and waited.

You’ve counted the days.

You may even have had many a sleepless night thinking about their glorious return (I know I sure have).

But it is time, my friends. It is time.

THEY. ARE. BACK.

No, I’m not talking about the Terminator…

But speaking of Ahhnold, did you hear that he and his brotha from anotha motha, one Mr. Sly Stallone were seen partying it up at a local California, or should I say, ‘Cal-ee-for-nia’ hospital together? They apparently both had scheduled shoulder surgery tune-ups at the same time and didn’t even know it. I guess that’s what you get for spending over 40 years kicking some serious butt in high-octane  and action-packed movies. I’ve got to hand it to ‘em, they’ve still got it.

No, I’m not talking about these cutie-pa-tuties either. Although, I will say that Howie, Nick, Brian, and AJ were rocking my world today as I cleaned the house. Yes, I may have broken out my microphone broom and belted out “Shape of my Heart” like I was a contestant on The Voice, and yes my dog may have been looking at me like I was crazy (but if you ask me if I was indeed performing such ludicrous acts, I will fully deny, deny, deny.)

And no, I am not talking about these loveable pre-historic pals. Which reminds me, DO NOT watch this movie without a box of Kleenex nearby. This was one of my all-time favorite movies when I was just a wee one (I wanted Rex to be my best friend). I watched it so many times in fact that my VHS tape started to unravel. Ahh VHS…remember those day? I was so excited when I saw it on TV the other night. I cried like a baby then, and I cried like a baby now.  SOOOO good! Here’s a little clip to wet your whistle…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqLdZwkajvY

So what is it, you ask?

What is this thing that has got me going ga-ga? Drooling and salivating over?

Are you ready?

You might want to sit down for this.

The thing that has finally made its return is….

drum roll please (badabadabadabadabada)….

Awww yeeahhh!!!

 Start drooling now.

The once a year, smooth, ice creamy, dreamy, minty, melt-in-your-mouth, perfect bite of heaven master piece is BACK, Jack! When I was little, I pounded these things back like no other (brain freeze or bust), but after ED showed up, I no longer allowed myself to have quite the same Pavlovian response to this decadent treat. As much of an ice cream-a-holic as I was, it sucked like a vacuum that this was one of the things that ED placed on her ‘no-no’ list of things I could eat and enjoy. As much as I wanted to slurp up a Shamrock shake, I didn’t. I couldn’t. Or so ED made me think. “Do you know how many calories are in that thing? Do you want to have a blubber butt?” These are just some of the crazy and ridiculous things that she would taunt me with. The nerve, right?!

Well now that ED and I are no longer on speaking terms, and she has packed her bags and is well on her way to getting the heck out of dodge, I have been able to finally, once again, allow myself to drool over, and sip up this, and any other sinfully delicious  ice cream treats. The thing that ED didn’t realize was that once in a while, something like this is perfectly okay to devour. She always saw things in black and white; If I got an ‘A’ on an exam or in a class, I ALWAYS had to get that same ‘A’ from there on out. If I was happy, I ALWAYS had to be happy and smack a smile on my face. If I ate healthy, I had to ALWAYS eat healthy, no exceptions.

What I have come to find these past few weeks living almost entirely without her is that things aren’t ALWAYS black and white. In fact, there is this whole world of grey that I had been missing out on, shades of silver and mesh that are necessary in our everydays. Getting an average grade every now and then, having a bad day, or even enjoying a big cup of Shamrock Shakey goodness every once in a while is A-okay, it’s normal, it’s healthy. Now I wouldn’t say that knocking back one (or three) of these everyday is the best thing for you, but if you want to go out and have a shake every now and again, do it! ANd enjoy it!

I’m running like the wind on the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, I’m sprinting to the finish line of this recovery road and can see the end in sight. I’m not quite there yet but am SO looking forward to when I can say with gusto and pride…

I AM BACK!

Now that is something to celebrate.

And I can’t think of anything better than with one of these

Total shake domination! And another plus: my post-slurp belch smelled minty-fresh

Have a great Friday guys!