A bit under the weather

I have been battling a cold the last couple of days so sorry for not keeping up with the blog! I actually stayed home from work on Wednesday.

Last weekend we went to Brooklyn to visit Rachel and Rusty it was great fun! The ride up was really nice, it was a pretty warm day. On Saturday night we enjoyed dinner at Sea, a Thai restaurant in Williamsburg and then some beers (Prosecco for me) at a German hot spot. We returned to the swanky new pad that the Steeliman's call home were the boys smoked their pipes (on the rooftop deck with a spectacular view of NYC) and Dan was given a lesson in rolling cigarettes! He did not need to know this Rusty but thank you, now Dan is completely versed on tobacco products and paraphernalia. Winks, the beauty (their kitty) practiced her hissing abilities on Dan who I believe was tormenting her the way he does to Lorenzo!

On Sunday we headed out early for the Brooklyn flea market, lots of great things to buy there but none of it would fit in the car. I am better off without more "things". We had brunch at a cute tiny little place I think it was called Lolas and then it was off to DUMBO a fantastic area full of home and furniture stores. Loved it! Though the guys did not. They smoked their pipes and followed along. We stopped at a shop where I purchased this pendant lamp designed by Simon Karkov for Norman Copenhagen. Love love love it...this flower will look very pretty over our dining table.

It was a full day and we ended up back at the Steeliman ranch to cook dinner. We enjoyed our weekend with the R's, it was wonderful to celebrate Rusty passing the bar exam and our anniversary!

Monday morning we were on the road again back to DC but not before we stopped at the Tiny Cup (what a great name) for breakfast.

Happy Aniversary to us.

OMG

What do you do when your contact lens rolls behind your eye???
I have an instant headache ..ewww

All signs point to...

NEW YORK!!
Yay today is the day we go to NY!! We are visiting very dear friends who have recently moved to Brooklyn. Rachel and Rusty, we just love them. Dan and I were always planning a visit once they settled in to their new digs but it just so happens this weekend is our Anniversary. So we will be doing some celebrating no doubt. But there is even better news to celebrate, I just found out Rusty passed the Bar exam!! Hooray!! yipee!! So what a weekend!
We will not be home until Monday sometime so I'll blog ya later!

Holiday Tuesday!

Tuesday was a big day for me. I had all these plans for the apartment: painting my hutch, putting up new lights from Ikea, cleaning out a bookshelf and doing some laundry! This did not come to fruition, I accomplished zip, zilch, nada, none of the above!
WHY...because my Mom, Christie and the girls came to town for some VA shopping!! I am not one to turn down a day of shopping or a day with the girls. At first there was some disappointment from the little troops that Uncle Dan was not around but by mid day Catie proclaimed this was a girls day, no boys allowed!! Audrey concurred.
We had a blast and got some great deals which you can see is apparent in the picture below! The littlest shoppers had a lot of patience but we had to take breaks from the program to fuel up. We had lunch at Panera and then hit Homegoods and TJMAXX. I knew it was time for another break when the girls where hanging off the side of the shopping cart while we where in line, and then crash, the shopping cart fell on them....after we checked to be sure they were OK we laughed it off and went for ice cream at Johnny Rockets, every kids delight! Catie ended up with a skinned knee but there is something about vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and whipped cream that makes everything all better.Dan actually had to come and pick me up from Trader Joe's because there was no more room at the inn!

In the evening Cathy, Chris and Kate came over and treated me to a belated BOMBAY CURRY birthday dinner! It was fantastic as usual complete with too much sangiovese, good conversation, and wonderful gifts!
Thanks for a great night! I love yooos guys!!

Saturday

Have I mentioned that this is our favorite time of the year? We both wish it was a bit cooler but at least the temperature is dropping in the evening. Our electric bill was significantly less this month thanks to all the cool days! YAY for steam heat (no charge in the apt.)!
We had errands to run on Saturday and Dan had to work for a bit in the afternoon but we managed to squeeze in a trip to the Holocaust Museum and a stroll to Filene's Basement in the evening. I have been talking about going to this museum for almost a year maybe longer but I could never bring myself to go. I am not sure why today was the day maybe because I watched the beginning of Rape of Europa or maybe because I have a few extra days to recover with the holiday on Tuesday. Dan started off with me but only made it halfway before he had to go to work. It takes quite a while to get through the entire museum. I felt like I had to watch every movie and read everything. I can not lie it was hard to do and very overwhelming. I am sure glad I finally walked through those doors.
It takes your breath away. I am not sure I can ever go back.

We did not find anything in Filene's but it was a good walk up 14th St.
Walking back to the train at Federal Triangle we passed the Ronald Reagen building where Dan works. They have put beautiful twinkling white lights in all of the trees lining the sidewalk it was a gorgeous sight especially since all of the leaves are yellow.

Happy Autumn!

Last weekend

Last weekend we celebrated my birthday. It was the Saturday after Halloween so we were still in a festive mood! Here are some shots of a spectacular weekend!
This is the cake that Catie and Audrey decorated for me!!
This is the look that Uncle Dan gets a lot, it is something like.."he is my hero", we surprised the girls and arrived at the neighborhood party and then went treat or treating. Mom and Dad said to the girls "look who's here" they saw me and started walking over with big cheesy smiles then they saw 'him' the rock star. "Uncle Dan, Uncle Dan!" calling out from across the playgound, they ran right past me for their super hero, Uncle Dan. I always say it but I hope he is enjoying it now because someday not too far off in the horizon will be nail polish and shopping.
Our Wonder Woman will protect us, especially her little sister, whether she likes it or not!

It was a great time, thanks guys!

Just as I thought

Last night Daniel and I went to the mall after work (2cnd time this week!) to return a nail/lotion kit he bought me for my birthday. At first I thought it was sweet because I do my nails at home a lot. But he forgot to remove the receipt from the bag and when I found out it was 52 smackaroos for nails it had to go back. The actual return of the product is a long story but the bottom line is it was returned. He really got swindled by the girls running those lotion kiosks, there favorite line is "can I ask you a question" NO , N-O, no questions, do not make eye contact just keep walking! Oh by the way, their return policy sign was about 4x3 in size located behind the cash register, where you are not allowed to stand.
After the mall escapade, we went home to Lorenzo, it is always so nice to come home to him because no matter what your day or his day for that matter was like he is happy to see you. Usually because it is treat time but his affection and need for us is comforting.
I managed to come up with a delicious dinner of tofu with shallots, ginger and garlic, brown rice and baby broccoli. It was delicious, so much so that we ate it all.
Our neighbor Lisa stopped by for a quick chat while I was cooking, she raved about our new place (she was very familiar with the old place) and then we talked shoes and shopping. Needless to say Daniel was not interested and went to get the mail (aka Smoke break!) Lisa left and I opened the mail. Finally, a new Net Flix!! It was the Rape of Europa "oh Boy!! oh boy!!" I said "I am watching this tonight!" though it was just as I thought it would be, we came home ate dinner, I put in the movie and laid down on the couch, Daniel put the hockey game on in the second bedroom and laid down on the bed....within 20 minutes we where zzzzing!! Our programs were riveting! It is more like we were just pooped!

Million little things

Do you ever have a million little things to do and you just do not want to do even just one!

I think this week of excitement has really worn me out. There was Halloween excitement, my birthday, the election; this is too much for a girl! Now I feel like just sitting on the couch and watching a movie with Daniel and Lorenzo.

But something tells me this is not what the future has in store for me...

VICTORY

YES WE CAN!

The World is Watching

pazzo

So it is Monday...
I ask myself sometimes why do I love the city so much? Is it because it is just so colorful?
Today on my lunch break I did the usual and went outside, talked to Dan for a brief moment and then went to Starbucks for a green tea. I look forward to this green tea they sell called Zen it has mint in it and is delicious with honey. They were out of my tea and honey, I really felt like I needed the zen today, bummer! So I settled for China green and some honey from my desk when I returned.
I sat outside for a brief moment and then I heard my que from across 7th and Penn. to return inside. Keep in mind this is a very busy corner in DC and is actually the location where two women were mowed down by a metro bus! This African American man who appeared as if he just got off of the Good Times set was yelling across the street at folks "hi ya doin" "Good to see ya" "Don't forget to vote". He was headed my way so I tried to pick up the pace as not to be confronted and trapped in a conversation with this guy. There have been many days where I am approached by peddlers and homeless people. (Last week this guy was screaming at the top of his lungs at someone who was not there and then he proceeded to pick up a brick and throw it down in front of some guy minding his own business.) Ugh! So, as I was literally in a run walk I see this perfectly normal man throwing something away in the garbage ahead of me except he too was not 'perfectly normal', he was going on about this cup he found in the garbage. He said "I am going to take this cup and put it in my pants, I am going to take this cup and put it in the back of my pants" he went on chanting this and it seemed to me that the cup was golden for him. By now I am running to the door of my office trying so hard not to make eye contact with this guy who could not have been more than 30 years old.
It is the city and I guess you take the good with the bad. I am sad for these men and any of these folks who are homeless or just have these psychological problems. But some days I just feel like 7th and Pennsylvania Ave. is a circus full of nuts.
No wonder I am so tired when I get home.