Fever!

One of my dear friends is pregnant and is due in May.  This means I have a legitimate reason to be shopping around in the baby section for a present.  The last time I did this J had to remind me that you buy clothes for the baby you're having...not have a baby to wear the clothes you want to buy.  I swear, his priorities are all wrong.

P.S. Guess whose hands these are!

YUMMUS!

I'm not afraid to admit that the past week I've been obsessed with one thing: perfecting my hummus recipe.  I think I'm there.

1 can chick peas (I find not calling them garbanzo beans really helps the flavor)

2-3 T. olive oil

1/2 T. sesame oil

2 cloves garlic

5 kalamata olives

juice of 1/2 a lemon

a dash of kalamata olive juice

dash of cumin

dash of red pepper flakes

salt and pepper

Set your blender to pulverize.  Garnish with a few sliced olives on top.  Ohhhh yeahhh.

Our favorite restaurant's hummus was the inspiration; their blend is very smooth, lighter in color and a little "looser" than store-bought and I think that's what we love about it so much.

80s party all night long

It's happening again.  Only this time in the form of a surprise 80s birthday party for one of our gal pals.  Last night a few of us went shopping to pull together her amazing outfit and I was surprised at just how easy it was.  Apparently the colors for spring fall into the "highlighter" family...if that's what the kids consider cool these days, man, I'm screwed.

I'm doing a rerun of the above-pictured outfit, with the addition of leg warmers and longer hair that I can hopefully make touch the sky.  I've been asked by 3 people to do their hair.  I'm trying to decide if it's a compliment. 

And yes, that is the same sequins skirt that Ginger made for me during college -- the Tina Turner Halloween skirt.  You totally can't tell from the angle of the photo, but it's only 5 inches long or so.  Maybe the kids will like me after all.

Random nights of singleness

About one night a week J works the nightshift at work.  This week that night is tonight.  Monday.  I'm so excited. Why?

JON AND KATE PLUS EIGHT.

'Nuf said.

My new favorite picture

Just one of the hilariously sweet pictures from their adventure to Moon yesterday.  More on that tomorrow.

Little Mary Muffet

Mary.  Oh, Mary.  Someone should write a book about Mary and her quirks, like the fact she has to be coerced to drink water from the big self-watering bowl they have because she hates bubbles in her face as she drinks.  But since they won't, I shall tell you a little story about Mary.  I know I've told you that she's more human than canine, but I think I've also shared that she's more feline than canine.  Friends, something's happened to her in the last month.  I've been calling it 'bursting Mary's bubble' as in, the personal space bubble around her.  Previously, if you moved into her dance-space, she would get up and leave the room...usually retreating to her tuffet (we'll get there soon).  But as of late, when we're hanging out at night -- me watching TV with Leo curled up at my feet, J engulfed in a crossword puzzle occasionally looking up to ask me for a 12-letter Psychedelic Furs song -- Mary will march her self up and park it 2 inches in front of my face...and proceed to stare me down.  What does she want? I asked myself.  Then straight out of Free Willy, she leapt up over top of me and curled up behind my head.  As in, curled herself into a teeny ball on the pillow I was leaning against on the couch.  She stayed there, softly sighing behind my head, the rest of the evening.

She had joined the team. Realized that when she retreats to her tuffet that Leo gets all the lovin. Now, she's right there waiting to receive 50% of that love.

As briefly mentioned about the teeny ball she curled herself into, our dogs prefers to be on something soft and poofy.  If you leave a pillow, a sweatshirt or maybe a sock on the floor, our dogs will circle on top of it about 3 times and then curl themselves into the tightest ball you've ever seen.  Mary has a bed in our bedroom that we lovingly call her tuffet, and to her, it's the best place in the whole world.  Well, one night last week, Leo decided to be a trickster and he stole Mary's tuffet.  He stood his ground and she retreated...defeated, and with no place to sleep.  J, having seen this go down, jumped out of bed, and invited her to sleep on the above-pictured wingback chair.  Mary kindly obliged.  And you know what?  When I woke up the next morning, I opened my eyes to see a little black ball still curled up on that chair.  She was a happy girl. And since he got to sleep on her bed and not in his usual post under the bed, Leo was just as pleased with himself.

Chicken Leto

S: "No offense, but this close, from this angle you kind of look like Chicken Little."

J: "Chicken Little?  Orrr....Jared Leto?"

Fly Me to the Moon

J was off today and decided to go visit his Grandaddy in Moon, Virginia.  It's a little town; I don't know the population, but I'd guess 3.  When we went to visit last year, it certainly felt like it was just us and Grandaddy.  Amazing solitude, beautiful land, breathtaking private coves...simply paradise.  Grandaddy, a young 93, is seriously one of the most amazing men I've had the pleasure of meeting. So learned, when you talk to him you get the feeling that he's experienced everything. From his smooth lines (the first time I hugged him, his hearing aide buzzed and he said to me slyly, "It buzzes when a pretty girl is nearby."), to his knowledge of the outdoors, to his vast collections of just about everything -- he's someone you just want to visit.   So when J told me this week he was taking another trip up to visit, it got me thinking about our last visit.  And just how badly I want to go back.

His huge barn (pictured above) was a treasure trove of all things antique.  Home to many a canoe and kayak, as well as the perfect baby blue life vest he let me borrow, that barn has stories to tell and secrets to keep.  It's where I saw my first Barn Swallow.  It's where I felt such a feeling of peace staring out to the water from the oversized windows on the second floor, surrounded by the best smelling air this side of Tennessee.

Miss Mary knee-deep in mud -- her favorite place to be!

Captain J, master canoe wave-jumper

Canoeing in the middle of the sound, in quite deep water, 

willing Mary to be still and symmetrical so we wouldn't tip over.

Parked at our beach. J loves this picture.

"This is my cove!"

And the ultimate surprise?  Someone else got to go along today.  Yes, while I worked 11 hard hours, Mr. Leo frolicked, played, ran, and sniffed every inch of that land.  I can't wait for my team to get home so I can hear allll about it and see alllll the pictures.  Waiting in their food bowls are 2 bones I picked up tonight at the store, a special treat for my stinky tired worn-out babies.  I'm sure a post is in order.

Aged 27 Years

So J's birthday was on Sunday, right?  Well I was completely having an awful unspeakable reaction to my antibiotic and was not about to celebrate.  We had a quiet dinner for two on Monday night and all was well.  His parents, however, totally showed us up.

Last night they took us out for dinner at their club.  Yes, I said it.  We dressed ourselves up and prepared to act like the young sophisticates we sometimes pretend to be when we're not wearing sweatpants and watching CSI.  It was so amazing.  I like to keep a running tally of the "Most Amazing Nights" and I think this one made the top ten.  Fine food, great cocktails, and 3 of the best storytellers I know.  And of course since it was a birthday, most stories were focused on my dear boyfriend and how he entered this great world (He was born with the Leboyer technique, which I think it totally cool and worth researching).

After eating a huge meal, birthday cake and bananas foster that they flambeed at the table, we headed for home.  Fat and happy.  But not before J told his parents to expect a Shaman at our wedding.  Yeah, he said it, not me.

iTunes, hear my request!

In my years of being an iTuner, I've had to resort to "requesting" two songs.  Yes, these are songs that at least at the time, iTunes didn't offer.  Unacceptable.

1) Crossroads.  Tracy Chapman.

I'm not sure if they added it or I (gasp!) acquired it, ahem, another way, but I have had it on my computer for sometime now.  It's one of my favorites.

And now...

2) No More Rain (In This Cloud).  Angie Stone.

iTunes, I am disappointed with you.  You may make it up to me by promptly adding my girl Angie's song.  Today's 70 degree weather made me want to listen to it very loudly while driving across the West Norfolk bridge, with all my windows down as my hair whipped all around my head.

On days when J and I both work, (I won't lie to you--it's not often) we leave our iHome on for the dogs, and it's on an R&B station.  The other day I got home and was walking around the condo and this song came on.  I was instantly taken back to '99 when this was one of my favorite songs.

Hints of Spring

Yesterday was the first day of 70+ weather this year.  And I know the whole country is having freak heat, but it sent us into a tizzy that soon it'll really heat up and life will be fun again.  Beach weekends and Sunday brunches served with a side of ocean air.  Last-minute happy hours with friends.  Grilling out on the porch.  Walking the dogs late at night.  So last night once I finally made it home, J and I walked to our favorite restaurant for our favorite salads (you've never had a better Greek).  It was our first time really getting to do that since we moved because of the time of year we chose to move.  It was exciting.  It was exhilarating.  It reminded me that yes, this place we moved isn't just a safe harbor from work for 8 hours a night.  

This summer will be FUN.

The light at the end of the tunnel

My parents are coming to visit!  In my four years here, they've never made a trip at the same time; my mom comes every year for her spring break, my dad comes down when he's out here for work.  I'm soooo excited and it's actually just a few weeks away!  By then I'll be done with my work madness so I'll be taking those days off.  J's excited to take my dad to work with him.  I'm excited to show them the new pad.  And of course, there will also be a wonderful meeting with J's parents...that's what I'm most excited for.  Oh, and they'll get to see their grand-dog.

I can't wait!  I officially have something to look forward to!