Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend started out great and ended great! And the middle was not bad either!!

Friday night we went to Cartersville to an Irish pub and listened to an Irish band. We had a great Irish dinner and wonderful music by Mickle a Do (they play at the Renaissance Fair in Atlanta). I had fish and chips, of course, and my boyfriend had bangers and mash. Yum! Unfortunately Irish Soda Bread was recently taken off the menu. It was a great night with a good band and an even better boyfriend.

Saturday we went to a car show then off to dinner and a movie. It was a camaro car show, and we saw the chick-magnet's competition. T-tops, convertibles and even a police car! It was a gmmb body (I think I got that right) and the bumper was a taunt "Here speeder, speeder, speeder." Dinner was at Johnny's Pizza, ok, again, but the pizza there is good! We seem to have the same conversation every time. What was the cheese sticks we ordered? Well, definately not the garlic bread. The movie theater was packed, we saw Pirates of the Caribbean III. It was good, there was even a little child dressed up like Jack Sparrow. CUTE!!

Sunday my boyfriend had been working hard on his surburban so we took it easy. We went to Buffalo's for dinner, had hamburgers and a hot brownie a la mode and went for a short ride. It was great, the t-tops were out, we went for a drive in the cool night air, just enjoying the scenery and the breeze.

Monday we went to Lowe's, Home Depot Expo, and had dinner with my parents at Cracker Barrel. That was somewhat of a suprise to both of us, but it was a nice dinner. Dad chimed in a lot, Mom every now and then. Both Dad and I got the look on a topic Mom started, but if she didn't want the topic, it shouldn't have been started. We parted on good terms, headed our separate ways, then we finished the night with Brandsmart, Sears, and a nice drive home. Both of us agreed that Brandsmart is not a good shopping environment, it is messy, noisy, and, well, messy and disorganized.

Finals!!

I got the results back from my final! If I hadn't made a 100% on all my journals, a little extra credit as well, I would not have gotten the 'b' in philosophy.

I also found out that my professor is Buddhist. That was an interesting twist!

Now I am headed toward the last class of my associates degree. History 1111. It should be interesting . . .

hope I graduate this time . . . never know with this college . . .

Influences of The Bachelor on tv

My mom and I were watching The Bachelor on ABC Monday night. It was the final night, the bachelor proposed to the lucky girl and everything was good. He even picked the one we both thought he should. After they were officially engaged I asked mom what she would think if my boyfriend proposed to me. I was not prepared for the answer. She thought that I would say no. That, as a couple, we were too ordianry and that there was not enough excitement. That I enjoy going out but that is the extent to which things would go. I also get the same vibes from my father. Just the little statements, not enough to make a fuss over but just sly enough to get his point across. Their statements just rub me the wrong way. I am not going to do anything out of spite to them but I will not stop doing something just because they don't like it. After all, they continue doing the little annoying things that I ask them not to do and this is one matter in my life that I will make my own choice and abide by it.

Vroom Vroom

Sunday we both were as excited as kids the day before Christmas. My boyfriend had planned on a drive over Fort Mountain on his motorcycle. Brad, Chuck, Chuck Sr., Susan, and Eric went with us. Only Chuck and my boyfriend had a piggyback rider, the others rode solo. It was a great day for a ride, clear skies, slight breeze, beautiful scenery, and great company. First stop was Waleska, then on to Goshen for our first 'group stop'. Everyone was ok with the pace we were setting, so off we went again. Next stop was Dahlonega for lunch at the Dahlonega Brewery. I thought that it would be different than what it was. It was decorated in Italian frescos. Somehow that was the furthest from my mind. I don't really know what I was expecting, but it wasn't Italian Fresco. After a friendly lunch with good conversation and comments on chick flicks and the music over the speakers (they were from different chick flicks, hence the conversation), we were off again. But not before everyone stopped to look an a nicely restored red vintage car. Ok, so I don't know what it was, but it looked very nice. Then we stopped in Ellijay so the guys could try each other's bikes out. Ok, so girls assist with makeup and clothes, guys swap bikes and cars. Go figure. I do believe it is a guy thing. But they had fun - all grins when we saw them next. Susan and I went into 3 antique shops. Funny thing, we didn't purchase any antiques, only giftware items. But they were small enough to fit into the bikes. Next stop was Fort Mountain at a lookout spot. We took our group photo here. The scenery was beautiful, we got some swooshing in, a couple of low turns (the bike was leaning kinda low), and curves in the road that added fun to the ride. Next stop was Waleska. By this time I was having a difficult time getting off the bike. I just am not accustom to an 8-hour ride. Thankfully we stopped for about 30 minutes to cool down, rest, and stretch our legs. Then home again, 9 hours later. **Whew** I was tired . . . and sore . . . and thirsty . . . and tired. . .

After my boyfriend let the dogs out to exercise and put them back up, we both went to Chili's for dinner. It was somewhat funny because when our waiter brought our chips and salsa, the chips left a trail from about 2 tables away all the way to our table. A few minutes later the menus made it to the floor. Then more chips made it to the table. Luckily the fajitas stayed on the table. We both agreed that it was the table's fault and not our own. Was it possessed? Quite possibly. After our Molten Lava Cake we decided it would be best to head on home and call it a day. I dropped off my boyfriend and headed on to my house. What a day. What larks! What fun!

La Hacienda

Sunday we went to La Hacienda for dinner. Ok, so it was Mother's Day. I spent lunch and the afternoon with my mother, his mother is no longer with us, so it was more of a day of reflection for him. We went to La Hacienda and had a delicious dinner on the patio. It is a pink stucco building with twin wrought-iron balconies and a calm Mexican atmosphere. I honestly have not eaten out as much as I have with my boyfriend. It has made me think about becoming a food critic. :) Ok, so I am a bit wicked. The meal was good, could have had a little better service from the wait staff, but overall we had a good dinner. I had 4 enchiladas that were smothered (or were they swimming?) in white cheese. The margarita was good, first time for trying that drink out. I am sure that it could be trouble if not consumed with self-control. Especially if I were to be in a hyper mood-swing. I would definately be dancing on the table then! After a short drive in the chick-magnet, I was taken home again, hopefully a little level-headed so no one there would notice that I was partaking of alcoholic beverages. ;)

Cupholder? What cupholder?

Today I went by Wendy's to get lunch on the run. I had to go by the bank and make a deposit, and it was lunchtime and I was hungry. I ordered a single hamburger, fries and drink. The hamburger and fries were packaged nicely in a paper bag and the cup, well, I am not sure if it had the lid on securely or not. But it was placed securely in my cupholder - that I know for a fact!

After getting my order, I waited for my place on the main road. Pulling out of Wendy's I could see in my periphial vision the yellow cup fell to the floor. My delima - do I reach for it and possibly have the lid pop off and Coke splatter the floor and my legs, do I let it fall and hope the lid is secure and the contents drizzle out? Well I decided to take my chances and let it fall, hoping for the best. Upon impact, I am assuming, the lid does pop off and 3/4 of my drink, along with ice, are now on the floor of my CR-V. Thankfully it is a warm day and it will dry soon. But my question is this - - - why couldn't Honda make an actual cup-holder that would work?

Meet the Parents part 2

May 6 - Today, after church, my boyfriend and I had lunch with my Dad, Mom, and one of my brothers. The other one was unable to make it on time due to traffic constraints. It was fun, we went to Fudruckers for lunch, talked about Elvis, unique interior decorations of restaurants, Tennessee, had a delicious hamburger. I honestly thought the lunch went very well, we had a quiet lunch but good conversation with everyone.

After lunch my boyfriend and I went to Marietta to the local art show.

Dinner with the boss

May 5 - Today my boss took my boyfriend and I out to dinner. This was one of the restaurants that was high on the list of 'possible birthday restaurants' but it just didn't make it.

The atmosphere was great, company exceptional, my date was a perfect gentleman, and the evening was wonderful. Who could ask for anything more?

Dinner was delicious, I had the salmon and a blue cheese salad. I know, blue cheese again. My boss ordered a bottle of wine (don't know which one other than a red wine) and we all had a glass. I should say that everyone had 2 glasses except me, I didn't even finish my 1 glass, but still managed to get a bit tipsy. Ok, so I can't drink that much and I only drink in controlled situations.

Dessert was delicious, a pecan and apple beignet with ice cream. Yummmmm!! Almost like going to the French Quarter in New Orleans but not quite there. I still like the original 'plain' beignet.

Happy Birthday

Today I celebrated my boyfriend's birthday. Unfortunately I had my camera and took no photos. I need to get better at taking photos.

I treated him to dinner at Chicago's in Marietta, they had a live pianist playing that evening and I thought it would just make the night more special. And it did.

We had a delicious dinner, I had a blue cheese and Chicken salad, he had a steak and potato. Dessert was a chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Seems like we always go for the chocolate.

As for the birthday loot, my boyfriend is now an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy, has a Beswick Golden Retriever (it was bigger than I thought it would be), an Amy Winehouse cd, a Tom Petty Wildflowers cd, and has probably already finished the Dove candy bar and the Hershey's Kisses (the new truffles - they are sooooooo good!!)

:)

Look What I found!!

While poking through my computer I found the very first 'together' photo of my boyfriend and I. I still remember that day. I was nervous, trying to make a good impression. Do you hold hands? Not? How far away do you stand? Or how close? Am I making the best impression on his co-workers? Will this work out? Does he really work here with all the neat planes? How can he work in a security cage all the time? Does he get claustrophobic? Does he like me? Am I making a good impression? Gee, this is fun . . . . .

Yes, that was going through my mind all the time. One scared little puppy, eh? Anyway, I survived, I am here, still, with the same great guy. I don't know how I could be any happier than I am now.

:)