Imagine you’re put in a slingshot: It has a comfy seat, the people around you are nice, and you’re ready to go really far, really fast. Total adrenaline rush, right? Yes! And then you realize you’ve been hurling through the air for 15 months…headed directly at a brick wall.
I feel ya, bro. So here are some takeaways from the Campaign Life you should be aware of in case, ya know, you ever think about jumping into elections:
1. Your body will forget how to sleep. 4-5 consecutive hours, max. You will find a point beyond exhaustion and you still won’t be able to sleep. I’m a week out and I’m still struggling. 5 hours still feels normal and anything longer than that doesn’t leave me any more refreshed – it sucks because, honestly, all I want to do is sleep.
2. When it’s all over, you will be an emotional wreck. Without a constant focus, you’re free to wander all over the emotional spectrum. Tuesday night I was a deadpan zombie, Wednesday I couldn’t shake anxiety because I constantly felt like I was forgetting something (there was nothing to remember), and Thursday I had a total breakdown because I paid $32 at a local beauty school for a disaster of a hairdo that was totally fixable. Seriously. Also, see #1. The struggle is real.
3. That massive to-do list that’s been piling up for well over a year is waiting for you, and you know it. You’ll put it off for a couple of days, then try to tackle it with vigor only to be worn out and frustrated in approximately 30 minutes. Energy, motivation, and focus will not be your friends for a while. Work in small increments & reward yourself for accomplishments. I recommend cookies.
In order to get my emotions and stress levels in check (and to counteract the cookies), I decided to join a gym. Get some endorphins going, amp up the metabolism, wear my body out so it physically has to rest. What could go wrong?
Tune in tomorrow for that gem of a story…
In the meantime, here’s an awesome cole slaw recipe Adam and I enjoyed over the weekend!
Sweet & Spicy Cole Slaw
(Not everyone likes that mayo crap)
- 1/2 head white cabbage, shredded
- 1 medium bell pepper, cut into matchsticks
- 1 large honeycrisp apple, cut into matchsticks
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 1/4 c red wine vinegar
- 1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- Salt and pepper
In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, garam masala, and cayenne together. Pour it over the cabbage, pepper, apples, and onions, which I’m assuming you put in a large bowl. Add some salt and pepper, then toss it again. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stir the honey and water together until it bubbles. You’ll see the bubbles go from pinhead sized to pencil eraser sized in a few minutes. Keep stirring; once the bubbles are big and the color is a nice amber, pour the hot mixture directly over the other ingredients. Not only will the heat will help break down the cabbage a little bit, but it will also help the peppers and apples absorb that yummy dressing.
Toss it all to combine, then taste it – what does it need? Nothing but time? Good! Let it sit for 30 minutes or so on the counter or overnight in the fridge. You’ll have a bit of excess liquid, so drain it off and keep it on the side for people who like extra dressing, or for that side salad you’re going to take for lunch tomorrow.
Remember, this is your cole slaw, so do whatever you want! Don’t have a bell pepper, but you have carrots? Go for it. Don’t like cayenne? Take it out. Think apple cider vinegar would be good instead of red wine vinegar? Done. Throw in some poppy seeds and get real cray. I just made this up based on what was in my kitchen. We served it up with some hot Italian sausage links and cold beers, but it’d go with just about anything. Happy eating!
Becoming Mrs. McCully 