CSI: Boston/Melting Pot

I didn't know if I should write about CSI: Boston or my birthday dinner out with some friends at my favorite restaurant, The Melting Pot...so I'm going to write about both. Dinner was at 8pm, so I putz around downtown after work. I ran and got some new lipstick from Victoria's Secret, since I've lost 2 lipsticks in the past 4 months while traveling b/t CA and Boston. Then bought a hate at DSW with my birthday rewards (couldn't find shoes that I wanted). Then, as my coworker and I walked to the T stop to go meet up for dinner at the Melting Pot we saw all this police tape and crime scene markers and tons of cops. It was like a real life CSI scene. You had a police bike with blood on it and a pile of blood and paper towels on the ground. Then some cars surrounded by police tape, no idea what happened or who the bloody person was, but I snapped this photo b.c it's the first crime scene I've seen (besides the time when they came to my house to try seeing if any evidence was left when my car was violated). I didn't get home early enough to find out what had happened.



I love cheese, I love chocolate and I love fondue. I had a delicious cucumber mojito (minus the sugar cane stick of course) and enjoyed a nice dinner with some close friends. We had a blast and ended the night talking about 80s TV shows and toys. The restaurant had a birthday card for me signed by the staff and they put a candle in my cheesecake to dip in the chocolate. It was so nice having a glass of wine with dinner (first time since lent that I've had wine in Boston). I totally feel it and think I might have to take it easy tomorrow, but yummy! Great night out. I didn't think I'd be able to eat fondue tonight b/c my stomach has been bothering me today from the stress for the party tomorrow. (Either that or it's from not getting enough sleep thanks to the acapella hip hop singers serenading me and everyone else in the building at 1am.) I really hope I can enjoy my party; I can't wait to put on my tiara, dress, and sparkly shoes.

Speaking of tiaras. I did watch some of the Royal Wedding live today while getting ready for work and while I was at work. Makes me feel sad that I'm no where close to marrying my prince charming and that I'll never be a true princess. Like most American's I got sucked into this real life fairy tale. Oh the British Monarchy.

Stinky

I arrive in Boston and EVERYTHING is in bloom. Which stinks...literally. Like this cherry tree. It stinks so bad I have to hold my breath every time I walk out my front door. I can't wait for them to be done blooming. So far the allergies that I don't have haven't been bothering me; I think it helps that I've been taking my allergy meds well before things started blooming.

New Pots and Pans

First day back to work and I slept well, but snoozed so I only had 15 minutes to get ready and out the door to catch the bus. It was somewhat muggy out and I had forgotten to grab my oatmeal, so I had to stop at McDonald's for my breakfast. I was rather exhausted, but managed to get all caught up. Of course, the work didn't stop when I left work. I had 3 suitcases and one bag to unpack and put things away, straighten up the apartment so I can mop, dust and vacuum the apartment before Saturday's party. Of course, I spent a lot of time doing laundry and cleaning the kitchen tonight. My new pots and pans I bought for my birthday arrived so I brought the 25 pound box home from work and washed them. I'm so excited! Throw in a husband, and I'd be a happy housewife [I mean, who else gets excited over kitchen stuff?]

I grew up with these pots and pans and now I feel a little more at home. Last year when the ex-roommate moved out, I had to go out quickly to buy all the apartment necessities and couldn't find these pots and pans at the time. Now, every time I cook, I will be reminded of home. As far as the cleaning went, well... I still have 2.5 days left to get things ready for 25 guests. OH! And I tested my White Russian recipe for Saturday's party...using vanilla soymilk since I don't have milk... and it tasted fine to me. I wonder who else would like it since I'm always banned from playing bartender (mostly b/c I don't make the drinks strong enough).

Fly Day

4am wake up call for my 6:40 flight. I'm exhausted. The flight to St. Louis was fine; I got the best window seat on the plane and we arrived about 30 minutes early. Unfortunately, the flight to Boston wad delayed by a half hour. Spent the flight time reading. I got into Boston at 5:40 and decided to leave my 2 checked bags and go home with my carry on bags first, then make a second trip back to get my checked bags. It's a good thing too, the escalator was broken at Gov't Center, so I had to carry my bags up two flights of stairs to get to my line. There's no way I would have been able to do so with 4 bags, esp. With them weighing close to 50lbs each. I didn't escape without getting a war wound. I banged my knee and skinned it getting off the bus (why do they have steep stairs on an airport shuttle bus!??) and one of my items in my luggage broke (but not the liquor, it was just an Ikea decorative dish that I use with my fountain motor (but can be replaced) now I just have to wash the blankets it was wrapped in b/c of the little glass pieces. We hit a lot of turbulence coming to Boston and I do not do well when it feels like the plane is going to fall from the sky; there were numerous times where I caught myself holding my breath (as if that would help if we were actually plunging to our death). It is weird being back and this time I came home to clean mouse traps (so no mice have been around).

Last Day Home

Today we had nice weather. I spent my time between packing playing outside with my niece and nephew and pulling weeds. Oh, how I miss getting my hands dirty and growing gardens. I didn't get out of my pajama pants and am not looking forward to tomorrow. 6:40am flight and connecting in St. Louis, where they just reopened yesterday after being closed b/c of tornadoes and then seeing tomorrows weather and major storm activity in the direct flight path into STL...my flight to BOS from STL is already delayed by 45 minutes and that's the night before, so I imagine it will be later than that by the time I get into STL. 3 suitcases packed, 2 boxes of books ready to be mailed and another box to be shipped a little later full of misc. things. Part me just doesn't want to ship anything else back b.c deep down I feel like I'll be back living in CA in the future, how far in the future? That has yet to be determined.

Happy Birthday!

Today is a day I've been waiting 19 years for. When I was 10, I looked up my birthday in a World Almanac book and saw that my 29th birthday would fall on Easter. I've always wondered what it would be like to share a birthday with a holiday and I'm not a fan. I mean, it's cool to say "my birthday is on Easter" (which I've been saying for weeks now to anyone I knew) but it's hard sharing with a holiday. A tradition that I missed last year, I made sure I would spend today with my very best friend and her family for the Easter brunch and egg hunt. We had the traditional egg hunt outside, mimosas (my favorite), brunch. They placed a candle on a peep cupcake and sang happy birthday to me. It was sunny while we did the egg hunt but then got cloudy and rainy, so not the best weather (but still warmer than Boston). For my birthday, Ang and I went out to Carlsbad for some Mexican food and ate at the beach before we went to Claim Jumper to have a glass of wine and some cake. I really miss these days: walking the dog, catching up, having some adult time without the kids. I'm glad I came out for my birthday and that I was able to spend it with Ang and her family. I am so thankful for having them in my life and can't wait for them to visit me in October!! So, as I enter my last year in my 20s, I will say this...I'm already thinking about what I want to do for my 30th birthday party. :) And to all of you who wished me a happy birthday, thank you and I will make sure I don't delete you from my group of friends :)

Just Another Day

It was a gorgeous day out here in San Diego. I walked up the street to visit with a family I grew up babysitting and house/pet sitting for. It was nice to catch up and relax with them. I had my birthday dinner with my parents at the Olive Garden (growing up it was my favorite birthday dinner restaurant, until they stopped making the chocolate lasagna). I had my first glass of wine since lent tonight with dinner, it was a house red but really delicious, very similar to a Chianti. I got dropped off at my very best friend's house and it was like I hadn't left. I was asked when I was going to live in the same town as them again by their 4 year old, we had wine and went down to grab a movie, FroYo and groceries for tomorrow's Easter brunch. This was my first time at FroYo (or any other yogurt place like this) and had so many choices, I did some tasting and decided on some Original Tart and Cake Batter with mochi balls and some cookie dough. I think I'm going to have to hit up Pink Berry when I get back to Boston b/c frozen yogurt is tasty!