Pages and Pomegranates

It's been awhile.  I've been busy....planning!  I'm so far ahead it's so wonderful!  It makes me so happy and I have time to actually read!  This is the best I've kept up with reading since I think I was in high school...even then I kinda sucked at it when I was in school because I always had so much reading to do for school I was tired of it.  But now it's so relaxing and I've already finished 2 books since the new year started.  It makes me feel so accomplished and happy that I get to read during the school year instead of just during the summer.

Here is one that I read during our trip to VA.  Very interesting, began as a Borders clearance book and has already been passed around my mom's work and to me.  It's funny and also fairly thought provoking.



I had Monday off school and what always occurs on this 3 day weekend in January?  Birthtoberfest of course!  This meant another trip to Moline, IL for catching up and a great deal of enjoyment with college friends.  I carpooled with Stuart and Whitney both ways, which was incredibly fun and I even got some reading done too!  Saturday I had my first Chinese buffet experience....at which, if it is possible to fail a buffet, I did so with flying colors.  I ate mainly bread and rice because I didn't like the sesame chicken and I needed Whitney's help to open the rice steamer, because apparently I'm kitchen appliance inept, if there is such a thing :) 

We had Old Chicago for dinner where I was introduced to pomegranate...in mojito form.  Delicious!  I want to try the fruit, maybe I can add it to my list of fruits I like...which would then include....1.  We also watched the first part of the Falcons-Packers game...the part where they were winning.  Chris and I were bummed.  I've developed a disdain for them since becoming a Bears fan.  After OC we proceeded to the Daiquiri Factory which is extremely cool (literally) because daiquiris are the theme so there are lots of frozen/slushie drinks.  My favorite is the Naughty Girl Scout because it's mint chocolate chip!  If you google it, you could find a whole menu. 

The girls at the Daiquiri Factory. :)

In the District, which is where the Daiquiri Factory is, they have these really cool trees.  They are not trees with lights, they are trees made of lights.  Very interesting and add a nice touch to the area.

Then we returned home where the rest of the night was filled with Rock Band 3 and Dance Central(?) on xbox kinect....super fun despite the fact that I suck at dancing.  But learning them and being told your moves were "flawless" is a nice confidence boost.

I had all of Monday to relax...which I did in the form of reading!!! (can you tell I'm super excited about this?)

In other news, Chris likes his job so far.  I don't completely understand what it is that he does...something to do with reviewing contracts, whatever that means! :)  To be honest, I think it sounds a little boring...of course it's not the glamorous life of telling kids to sit down, shut up and do their assignment (ok, maybe not in so many words), but he's happy with it, so I'll take it.

Oh, also!  My Bears shirt is not bad luck!  I was wearing it on Sunday so I'm happy they didn't lose because of me.  I hope it will continue not being unlucky next week when they play the Packers...again.

*Besos*

Good Times Never Seemed So Good

So much has happened in the last week!

The wedding was tons of fun!  We had 4 very positive flying experiences, with the exception of our gate in Detroit getting moved 3 times during our lay-over.  We landed at C20, first went to C7, then to C37 and then finally to C19.  If only they had figured it out right away, we would have barely had to move.  We got into Richmond, hitched a ride with some friends and found an Amazing local pizza place.  Piccola's pizza was incredibly fantastic and I was dying to have some of their pasta, but we ran out of time (and stomach room) to have any.  Chris apologized that we didn't get to go back for dinner, but said maybe we could go back to Richmond sometime.  It sounds like we would be going back for just a restaurant, even though we're not....it was that good.  I can't bring myself to throw the receipt away.  The wedding was beautiful and the reception was extremely cool!  Since the wedding was at 7, there wasn't a sit down dinner at the reception, but they had hors d'oeuvres including a tomato soup shooter with a grilled cheese chaser (clever) and a gourmet mac and cheese bar (Chris' favorite part!).  The mac and cheese was inventive with bacon and spinach as well as lobster...and another one I can't remember.  I only had the bacon and spinach kind.  It was really great to see everyone again and it is probably one of my favorite New Year's Eve nights.  At midnight when we all counted down, I felt like an adult at a super swanky NYE party....which it was.  Oh and I also realized what a great song "Sweet Caroline" is.

There was some disappointment when we got back because we attempted to get Noodles and Company(for me) and Chipotle(for Chris) for lunch in Springfield, but they were both closed because it was New Year's Day.  We settled for Panda and it was fantastic.  (I just realized that I've spent most of this post talking about food).

It was nice to have some down time on Sunday.  Chris and I watched the Bears game while playing Monopoly City...I won.  Unfortunately the Bears lost, but we were sporting our gear anyway...I hope my shirt isn't bad luck!

I survived the first week back at school.  It kind of felt like a 4 day week since Monday was the 2nd day of finals and I didn't have to do much.  My crazy big 3rd period class was split into 2 classes and I've had happy mornings all week!  It's crazy how much stress decreases by taking bodies out of the room.  My Psychology class is big, but I'm loving it because they all seem so excited and enthusiastic about learning the material.  I hope they stay that way once we get into the structure and functions of the brain. 

The week was also a bit easier to deal with because I got a midweek visit from Chris because he had an interview in Springfield.  The job ended up not working out because they wouldn't be hiring until the end of January and he was offered another job that starts on Monday.  So since they couldn't give him an answer, he's accepted the other one and starting then!  It's in Chicago, which is a little disappointing, but overall definitely a positive in such a difficult economy.

*Besos*