Wayne and I decided to get away for a short trip so Wayne chose Annapolis, MD. We could only go for one night because Megan was watching the animals and we were lucky to get her to commit to one night.
We left home around 9:30 and had an uneventful ride. It was cloudy and cold until we got to Delaware and then the sun started to peek out. By the time we got to Maryland it was nice. Our first stop was Harris Crab Shack on one of the bays or streams near Kent Island. I had the 
crab soup, which was good but very, very thick,and 
fried oysters.
This is the view from the outside deck where we had lunch.
After lunch we continued to Annapolis and checked into our hotel. The hotel is really nice. Wayne found it using a discount hotel site. He got a great deal and we got upgraded to the top floor where a continental breakfast is included.After unpacking and resting for a little bit we walked down to the old part of town.
It was only about 5 blocks away.
We wandered by the capitol building and the governor’s mansion and strolled by the Naval academy (it was too late to go in)
and ended up at the dock. Annapolis is a very pretty little city and the port area is quite bustling.
It was such a nice day we decided to go for a boat ride.
The ride was about 40 minutes and took us by the Naval academy.
All Mid-shipmen need to learn how to sail in order to really get to know the ocean. Here is where they keep the sailboats. 
Here are some of them practicing: 
It was a beautiful day and there were lots of boats out on the water.
Right across the inlet from where the boat docked was what looked like a very hopping place: 
Wayne wanted to go there but it looked too crowded for my taste.
We ended up going to McGarvey’s 
where we had some drinks and split a dozen raw oysters that were very good. 
While walking back to our hotel to get ready for dinner we scoped out the restaurants. I had wanted to go to Aqua Terra but Wayne thought it a little too different. He picked either the Treaty of Paris or Kyma. We ended up picking the Treaty of Paris.
The food was delicious. I had a spinach and goat cheese salad and crab cakes. 
Wayne had a salad wedge and the Rockfish. 
After dinner we went pub crawling (well, we only crawled two pubs, but it was fun.) In the first pub we met some nice local people and listened to some music.
The second pub 
was quieter 
Categories: Places We Go
So You Think You Can Dance is back! Although technically it has been on for the past couple weeks, this week the actual competition started. Last year, the first year I watched the show, I knew from the start that Joshua would win. This year I don’t yet have a strong favorite – they are all such strong dancers (well, OK, not all of them, but most of them are.) I guess I’m leaning towards Evan because 1.) his brother didn’t make it and it was kind of mean how they made them hear the news together and 2.) I like his style and he’s just so darn cute. Of the girls I guess Melissa is the frontrunner, probably because she is a ballerina and I love ballerinas!
Categories: Things I do
Monday, when I went to start my car, the red light came on indicating that one of my tires had low pressure. Sure enough, on a Monday morning no less, I had a flat tire.
So I took Wayne’s car to work. While there the crack security team gave the car a ticket. “Please register your car.” No! sorry.
Last night on the way home from work I stopped at Pier One. I was thinking about buying a metal wine rack but on second look decided against it. It looked too, I don’t know, metal.
So I got a rooster wine rack.
It’s cute and I do have a rooster theme in my kitchen.
I moved the bookcase that was in Kat’s old room to the kitchen and put the wine rack on top. I don’t like the bookcase there but it does give me an idea of what to look for. I’m not sure that I like the coffee maker on the bookcase either, it looks a bit crowded.
I saw a nice storage piece in Pier One that looks like a good fit for the space. It has cubbys though instead of shelves, but I think I can live with that.
It’s $349 though.
Categories: Things I do
Reading Now:
I got one to see if I would like to read a newspaper on the Kindle. I have my doubts about this, just because how the Kindle works.
This is the second
Discworld book. I haven’t started reading it yet, but it’s next on my list.
Currently reading. This is not the first book in this series, I think it’s the second, but they didn’t have the first one for the Kindle when I got this. I like cozy mysteries and this one seems like it might be fun.
Already Read:
This was a fun book. Melucci writes about her dating woes and how cooking keeps her sane.
I enjoyed this book. The writing is a bit over the top, but it was a quick read and I really enjoyed learning about coffee and what makes a great cup of it.
Since I enjoyed the first book I bought this one also. The writing here seems to be even more over the top and the whole premise of the book seemed stupid. While reading some parts, it sounded to me like it was written by a man. I later found out that, indeed, this series is written by a husband and wife team.
Spoiler Alert, Spoiler Alert, Spoiler Alert
I thought it ludicrous that: 1. Clare would, based on the character as written in the first book, go to a Singles Party (even if it was held in her coffee shop); 2. she would find an incredibly handsome, nice, rich guy at said party; 3. she would turn down a dinner at
Babbo so she could cook for a man she met once; 4. she would find out man might be the murderer but sleep with him anyway ON THE SECOND DATE (well, she did need to check out his computer, what else could she do); 5. when her daughter was almost killed by the murderer Clare lets her leave and go home by herself — not even suggesting that someone accompany her; and 6. because handsome, nice, rich man might not come in handy in future books (too many around already that are in love with Clare,) the authors killed him off.
Although this is first in the
Discworld series I actually started with Equal Rites, which I loved. This one was not quite as good, the plot was a bit convoluted. There was one whole section, the
Lure of the Wyrm, that parodied the Pern novels by Anne McCaffrey. I laughed at that because I also love the Pern books.
This is the first Discworld book I read and the third in the series. I’m not sure what took me so long to find this series since I do like fantasy. This is a story about the eighth son of the eighth son and eighth sons always become wizards. Except — this eighth son turned out to be a girl and girls can’t be wizards! Everyone knows that. Except Esk (the girl who shouldn’t be a wizard). Because girls can’t be wizards her father hands her off to Granny Weatherwax, the local witch, for instructions on how to be a witch. When Granny figures out that Esk will never be a witch (she is a wizard after all) she and Esk set out for the Unseen University where wizards are trained. The only problem is that the university doesn’t allow women (except as cooks and housekeepers). Their journey to get to the city and the university is just a great big fun read. I think if I had started with The Colour of Magic I might not have continued on with the series and gotten to this book. I am very glad I did and I look forward to reading about the rest of Discworld.
To read at some point:
Categories: Things I do
Wow! I missed the whole weekend blogging wise. It was a fairly busy weekend. I started playing around with my Yudu and got confused at the first step. I thought the package came with only one piece of emulsion film so I wet the screen and just plopped the film down, then realized there were actually two pieces there. The first emulsion went on pretty wonky — I have a bare spot in the middle where I guess I didn’t put enough water. I had bought a second screen at Michaels with a 50% off coupon so I put the second emulsion on that and that emulsion went on pretty smoothly. I am still dithering on what my first screen print will be but I think I’ll do a leaf print. If it turns out ok I can use it in a quilt. This evening I’ll try to burn my first screen.
Saturday night we went to John and Theresa’s for Billy’s graduation party.
Lots of people, lots of food and I actually had a good time. I spent most of the time talking to Yvonne F and, later, Kate C.
Sunday I went to visit Kathleen in Media. She wanted to go to a Thai noodle place for lunch. The restaurant was downtown so we drove down and found that all of the main street had been turned into a craft fair.
It was a lovely day to wander around so we did before having lunch at the noodle place. I had a Pad Se Ew that was delicious.
After lunch we went to Pier One. Kathleen wanted to get a nightstand for her bedroom and conned me into buying. I found a nice wine rack but the top was missing and they couldn’t find another one so I passed that up. I’ll stop by the Pier One here to see if they have one. We also went to the Target by Kathleen.
It’s two stories high and has an escalator for people with a middle section for your shopping cart. That was something I’d never seen before.
Back at Kat’s apartment I played with the little kitty and saw Jimmy’s media station (and server) in action. I want a media station!
Wayne made smoked brisket for dinner. It was very tasty but a bit dried out. Next time he’s going to try putting less coals on and cooking it a bit longer. He had also made potato salad and coleslaw which were both delicious.
All in all, it was a lovely weekend.
Categories: Everyday Life · Things I do
Today I had half a cappuccino muffin for breakfast.
Today my Yudu came! Yay!
Today was cold and rainy.
Today I had a roasted vegetable wrap with American cheese and pesto mayonnaise.
Today I had a dark chocolate Lindt Lindor.
Today I realized (re-realized?) that I am burdened by way too much debt.
Today I pledged $120 ($10 a month) to NPR station WNYC and filled out the Chubb matching gift form.
Tonight we are going to Bonefish Grill for seared tuna and bang-bang shrimp. Yum!
Categories: Everyday Life · Finances
Learn to live within my means
Learn to eat less
Learn to make do with what I have
Learn to finish things
Learn Spanish
On January 3rd I posted my word of the year. These were my goals for that word. So far:
Learn to live within my means:
- I just spent $200 on a YuDu
- I am still in debt
- I have $1800 in liquid savings (I don’t even want to look at my 401k)
- Grade so far: C+
Learn to eat less:
Learn to make do with what I have:
- I have only bought 1 quilt kit this year
- I am making progress on the kits I bought last year
- My new art quilt project will use only (mostly?) fabric I already have
- Grade so far: B+
Learn to finish things:
- I most definitely need to study this one more, much more
- Grade so far: incomplete
Learn Spanish:
Categories: Life · Things I do
June 3, 2009
Tonight for dinner:
Grilled chicken
Sautéed mushrooms
Grilled zucchini
Grilled asparagus
To do:
Work on Project365 pictures
Take picture of LLBean clothes
Take picture of Lands End clothes
Cut out circles for quilt
This is a completely boring entry but I’ve actually worked today, so no time to write.
Categories: Everyday Life
June 2, 2009
At work with nothing to do. Well, this gives me a good excuse to write. I should probably read more also. Sadly, my day doesn’t really start until I get home from work. Today my to do list includes:
- laundry – I need some white stuff
- cut out the white squares for my art quilt
- make dinner – grilled goat cheese and asparagus qesadillas with the black bean salsa from yesterday
- read
Thoughts for today:
- I have really good intentions to eat a healthy lunch with no meat, cheese or white carbs and then by lunch time it’s out the window. Today it was out the window by breakfast. I had half a sesame seed bagel with cream cheese for breakfast. For lunch I had a salad (good) and Stacy’s Pita chips (bad) and some lentil salad I had made. I think I need to get an actual recipe for the lentil salad instead of winging it.
- Thoughts go out of my head almost as soon as they come into my head.
- I can be perfectly satisfied, hunger-wise, full even, and I still want to, and do, eat something.
Categories: Everyday Life
June 1, 2009
This month I was going to blog every day to get into the habit of writing every day and I’m already behind! So, I’ll catch up with the happenings this weekend:
Saturday
- Wayne decided to buy a grill (well, I talked him into it.) He got a Weber 22.5″ kettle charcoal grill.
- My contribution was going to the library and getting some grilling books. I got License to Grill, The Thrill of the Grill, Boy Gets Grill, Pizza on the Grill and Mesa Mexicana. Mesa Mexicana isn’t a grilling book but I like the authors (Mary Sue Millliken and Susan Feniger – I used to watch them on Food TV back in the day.)
- I went to Michaels, since I had a 50% off coupon, and got a screen in anticipation of my Yudu which should be here Friday (6/5)
- We tried out the new grill for dinner since Wayne had bought fillet mignons. However, Wayne is used to cooking dinner on his schedule, not on the grill’s schedule, so the grill was a bit on the cool side when he finally put the steaks on. It is also possible that we just didn’t put enough coals on. We let them brown on the charcoal grill and then Wayne finished them on the gas grill. While the steak was resting I cooked some asparagus on the charcoal grill. Everything turned out delicious. I made blue cheese butter for the steak and garlic mayo for the asparagus (no wonder I don’t lose weight.) We drank the last bottle of Miners Cabernet with dinner but I think some of the taste of the wine was dampened by too much white wine beforehand.
Sunday
- I dropped Wayne off at a rent-a-truck place. He was picking up the truck for Megan. She moved out of her old apartment and moved into a new one on Monday.
- Sally and I went to the Chester Craft show. The show was lame but the day was beautiful so it was nice being outside. After wandering around the show we went to lunch at the Publick House. I got the crab cake appetizer (crab cake, vegetable chips and salad) and Sally got the Turkey, Cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce panini with French Fries and we split everything. It was all good but we did skip the French fries.
- During lunch Megan called and said she wanted to go shopping with me (so I would buy and, of course, sucker that I am, I did) so when I got home we went to Target. I spent $100 on stuff for her new apartment.
- After Target we went to Stop & Shop and bought ingredients for Sangria.
- Putzed around when I got home and got nothing accomplished except I planted the tomato plants Wayne had bought. They are in pots on the hot tub deck but I’m not convinced they will get enough sun to thrive. The basil plant is there also.
- Wayne used the new Weber to smoke pork ribs and I made coleslaw to go with them. Megan and I made Sangria.
- The ribs came out almost perfect, the charcoal and the smoke really do make for tasty food. The sangria was very good (the wine could have been a little fruitier) and we had fun sitting outside and talking. It was nice to have Megan home.
- After dinner Megan went to a friend’s house. She said she would be back early but when I woke up at midnight she wasn’t home. I called her and annoyed her and she finally showed up around 2 am. Then she fell asleep in front of the TV and the TV noise woke me so I had to get up and go downstairs and turn off the TV. It might be stressful if she did actually move home.
Monday
- Back to work for me.
- I started my new blog: 400 Art Quilts to Make and have 2 whole posts posted!
- Wayne and Megan moved Megan into her new apartment. Wayne said the apartment is old, oddly shaped and dirty. When I talked to Megan later in the day she said it was disgusting. I think she procrastinated finding a place and then didn’t spend any time really looking at the place to make sure it was a place where she would be comfortable living. Ah, youth.
- Megan had a very bad day: the apartment is disgusting, some woman drove too close to her car and knocked the mirror off and she and Mike broke up. I’m still not really sure who’s idea it was to break up. Maybe Mike’s. I don’t think Megan likes to deal with any emotion so she hides any pain or sadness. But in all truthfulness, I am kind of glad they did break up. Mike didn’t seem to have any ambition.
- For dinner I made black bean Salsa (it was supposed to have mango and avocado but both were unripe) and Wayne grilled some shrimp and zucchini. I’m not sure the zucchini went with the rest of the meal but it was all tasty. I served the shrimp with the garlic mayo left over from Saturday’s dinner.
Categories: Everyday Life · Family
