How was your weekend? Monday, August 14
 

I'm going to brag! :)

Had a GTG with Patrick & Lee, Cobbie, LoveItaly, Marylin & Phil Phlash! We met for lunch at Mona Lisa, great food and wine, too many paintings, lots of talking and laughing. The group went to Patrick's place after lunch, unfortunately, I had to leave.

Not sure if Marylin will post her pictures on-line... my camera is the old type with a film in it, so it may take a while till the film is finished, and I'll try to put it on a CD and post somewhere for all to see.

Guys, I'm telling you again: it's great to see the faces behind those computer lines!!

How wonderful!

I was sick all weekend. Missed work Friday and my long run Saturday.

Yuck.

Read "Running With Scissors" (what a wack job), "Marley & Me" (expected more), and "Kitchen Confidential" (love me some Tony Bourdain).

Weekend was probably the best weather wise of the whole summer here in NJ. ((#)) Perfect 80 degrees, clear blue cloudless skies and no humidity!

Saturday we attended a surprise mini-baby shower for Fodorite hunnym and her DH. Had a wonderful time with them and their friends all afternoon.

Sunday we did house projects and errands. I painted the remaining two of our exterior doors red and they look fantastic! :) DH marinated london broil, made delicious corn on the cob & baked beans which we enjoyed outdoors. Evening was even cool enough for a fire in the fire pit!

Excellent, relaxing weekend! Trish

Sounds like it was a great GTG, Faina!

Sorry you had a lousy weekend, GT. Hope you're feeling a lot better today.

DH, DD and I had a fun Sunday afternoon checking out a couple of festivals along Kedzie. (Chicago)

The first was a smallish art festival in the Logan Square neighborhood. Very enjoyable! There were a lot of people there. But it wasn't jammed like some of the festivals we went to, or in some cases, tried to go to, earlier this summer.

Our daughter had worked a few hours that morning/early afternoon. So she was hungry. The pork on a stick (Puerto Rican, I wish I knew the proper name) she got first was so good that I just had to try the beef! She followed that with a huge funnel cake. She and DH said it was very good. I took their word for it as I sipped my Berghoff Red!

On our way out, DD and DH each bought a cool t-shirt from a very small band that was playing at the time. For $5 a piece, they were hard to pass up!

From there we drove quite a bit farther down Kedzie to a Korean street festival. It was much, much more crowded. But not to the point where it was impossible to move or that the lines to the food vendors were outrageous.

Very interesting festival. There were very few non-Koreans there. At least during the time we were there. So it felt very exotic to us! Certainly much more so than the Swedish or German festivals we'd been to earlier this year. With the exception of the Budweiser wagon, this one was much more ethnic.

The food was wonderful. And very reasonably priced. My husband got an order of spicy rice cakes which we all shared. He followed that with sushi. DD and I split a double order of dumplings.

All in all, a great this Sunday afternoon get-away!

I moved almost a month ago already and I spent most of the weekend unpacking again. When will it ever end?? I swear someone is sneaking more boxes in here when I'm not looking. :)

BTW - I'd love to see the GTG pics so I can put faces with names. And if you ever get over to West Michigan, please let me know!

I remember that feeling, travel_addict. I always swore the boxes multiplied when we weren't looking!

Travel addict, speaking of West Michigan, we spent Sat in Paw Paw floating on a raft while Grandma watched the little one! Ahh, I think I actually dozed for a few minutes while floating-good thing the lake wasn't busy! Spent Sunday at the Ship and Shore festival in New Buffalo. All in all a beautiful weekend.

Swalter... I am so jealous. Sounds like a great time...

"All in all, a great this Sunday afternoon get-away!"

How on earth did the <i>little</i> I meant to type become <i>this</i>? And how did I miss it when I previewed? I'm clearly losing it! :-d

No, Caph, you're not losing it - you just had too much fun this past weekend. The Korean festival sounds yummy!

Spent a good amount of time bicycling around the monuments, Mall, and Potomac River in DC and Arlington.

Weather was clear, dry and in the 70's!!!

This is downright <i>freakish</i> for DC in August where it's usually high 90's and 100% humidity. Maybe global warming?

My weekend was my brother &amp; sister and law came with their baby and dog.
The baby was fine. The dog is a 95lb. lab who barks at everything and chased after/jumped on every neighbor who walked down our road. I mean, does ANYONE think its appropriate to bring their dog to a family member's house on a visit....(especially a horrible, smelly, gigantic, rude, badly behaved brute of a dog!!)

DH and I finished up a week of camping along the eastern shore of Lake Superior. Cut the camping part short by one night, couldn't take sleeping on the ground for another night.

Enjoyed the great weather by playing at the mouth of the Sand River and climbing over/around some HUGE rocks/boulders.

Then the drive south! Michigan on a Sunday is never fun on the highways. Saw/passed more RV's and boats than I thought was possible.

Today is doing laundry and getting the camping gear ready to be stowed.

Saturday I got fitted for my wedding dress. Needs to be taken in at least 3 inches. Then fiance and I rented a few movies and made our special chicken and broccoli pizza. I think I was in bed by 10:30 and it felt great!

Sunday, I cleaned my house and then helped fiance paint my parent's new room to surprise them when they came home from their weekend at camp. We even decorated it a little bit in &quot;while you were out&quot; style. They were so appreciative and that makes it all worth it. It's one less thing my poor father has to worry about.

GoT--&quot;Running with Scissors&quot; has got to be one of my favorite books. I read &quot;Dry&quot; too and really like that one, as well.

drove down to southern Oregon coast to check out spots for friends daughters wedding
I posted a report under &quot;Port Orford hidden gem&quot;

The weather was great and the resort is a wonderful place - if you want a peaceful relaxing weekend, this is a place to consider

http://www.wildspring.com/

I am so jealous of Faina!! I have met Marilyn and she's a doll. I would dearly love to meet all of the other people you named. My weekend wasn't as exciting as Faina's, but it beat the heck out of last weekend, as I didn't have to work and there were no mis-haps with the car.

(some of you know what I'm talking about) :@

travel_addict--we moved 18 months ago and unpacked the last of our boxes Sunday. It had been sitting in the garage, labeled &quot;garage&quot;, and prior to our move here, had been in storage for 12 years. Dontcha think we could have just thrown it out without looking?? Oh no...we unpacked it...then threw it out. Except for the box of nails. The boxes of screws and washers. Out went bag worm poison now probably doubly strong, the nteenth kitty box scooper. Water dish for a long gone dog. Upteen vases from forgotten floral arrangements. Meguiar's car wax I'd be afraid might eat the finish right off today's car. LOL

We had a beautiful, fabulous weekend, celebrating Dr's call Friday telling DH that his PSA of 15 was not a result of an aggressive cancer, but an infection. It could have been 120 outside, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes, fires and floods, but it'd still have been a glorious weekend! :)

Too funny, Malesherbes! I swear I've thrown out more since I moved than in the months leading up to the move. Sure glad we moved all this crap in the 95 degree temps, only to throw it out in our NEW trash can.

And congrats on the good news of your husband - fabulous!

Great news, Malesherbes!! ((Y))

GoT, I love Tony B also. I'm not sure why, he's an obnoxious jerk who makes fun of my pal Rachel Ray. And he smokes, which was always a deal-breaker when I lived in the single world. Yet somehow I never miss his show.... ;;)

Beautiful weather here in Ohio over the weekend, sunny with no humidity! Sat. night we shared dinner and wine with friends and then saw &quot;Jesus Christ Super Star&quot; at an open air theatre owned by Kent State University.
The music was very good.

OO - I heard years ago that if we have our health, we have everything, and isn't it the truth.

My weekend was fine but this Monday on the boards is absolutely looneytunes. Thank goodness some folks are many many miles away - and we don't have to travel with them! :-)

Is it time for FFRR - or did I just start early?

Are you sure TheMasher didn't have one more screen name?

It was one of the nicest weekends all summer here in western NY, and even better, we didn't have 5 millions things we had to do. DH's office picnic at a State park on the Niagara River Friday night. For once we didnt have clean up duty as DH is still recovering from a broken ankle and had to leave the picnic area before it got dark, so he wouldn't trip and break his other ankle. Long morning walks with our puppy boys, dinner party and teen party at our home Saturday night. My husband's childhood friend &quot;travelled&quot; back home from Chicago so we had his entire family and some of ours for a great BBQ-filet mignon steaks and cedar planked salmon (rapidly becoming one of my specialties). Our kids had a bunch of their friends over after dinner to watch pre-season football, eat, drink, and giggle. Sunday, I travelled to Veranda Beach, tuned into my ipod, read the paper, magazines, anything that didn't require too much effort. Pretty boring, but really relaxing for a change.

CAPH, she's an ATTORNEY! Heaven help us.

Faina--Sounds like a great time!

Malesherbes--Fantastic news!

Sunbum--That place looks great...I bookmarked it when you mentioned it the other day.

ethel--WTG!!!

We had a fun weekend. Started with working the car wash to raise money for the youth football league. Then off to a wedding near Mt. Hood. Spent the afternoon at Timberline Lodge, which had a few weddings going on there as well. There are some fires on the back side of the mountain, so it was very smokey which was sad. Then off to our friends wedding. Timberline was already full, so we stayed at another place in Government Camp and it was nice. Right next door to the Mt. Hood Brewing Company, so perfect for drinks:)

I just saw that, starrsville. Now I understand the need to always have the last word. :S-

I've thrown my back out again and can't turn my head.

Geez I'm getting old.

You're really having a run of bad luck, GT. Hope you're &quot;mobile&quot; again soon. But, as long as you're able keep running marathons, I don't wanna hear anymore of this nonsense about getting old! :)

LOL Caph!

This is a result of my kitty curling up in the crook of my arm and wanting to sleep there all night.

She just hunkers down and purrs all night.

Well as Faina said, the Saturday GTG was so much fun. Great conversation, wonderful food and wine and of course best of all the company!! Perfect weather also! So nothing but Raves regarding Saturday. I just sort of relaxed Sunday in between a few visits from local friends and a few phone calls that ended up being long and fun talks.

I hope everyone has a happy week without any serious problems.

GoT,
Funny...I threw out my head and can't turn my back!
Maybe because I'm on the Left Coast?

I'm nursing a bout with the Ravenswood Flu. :'(

Faina and Friends...you got mail! :*

Wow, Faina, I am jealous....many of my fave GTG'ers!

My friend came over and helped me clean my office. You have NO IDEA what a mess it is/was. When people came in to the office this morning, the place is so clean they thought I'd quit!

Saw my niece on Saturday night. She is choreographing the musical &quot;Urinetown,&quot; opening at Manoa Valley Theatre on September 6. So she invited the cast over to her home for a potluck.

If you are in Honolulu from September 6, please support Manoa Valley Theatre and my niece:
http://tinyurl.com/qx4fm

Oh GoT,
What's gonna happen with training for the marathon? :-o I've been following your weekly updates on FFRR and have been so impressed by your gusto! :)

You should read MarionCK's &quot;wedding before Nevis&quot; report on the Caribbean Board. You have something in common! ;)

starrs : Looks like a lot of people had some <b><font color="lime">l<font color="orange">o<font color="blue">o<font color="fuchsia">n<font color="aqua">e<font color="indigo">y<font color="black"></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></b> milk this morning! 8}

I wish you wouldn't keep responding to FSM though. Let the thread drop into oblivion...please...please. Don't keep adding fuel to that unnecessary fire.

Faina : Love this Monday post :)

We had a lovely little long weekend family vacation in San Francisco. Took kids to The Exploratorium, ate chowder at Fisherman's Wharf, took kids to video arcade at Metrenome (sp?), walked Chinatown, ate great food, stayed at Saint Francis. :)

Thanks JAGirl. One thread is gone and the other is frozen. I'll have to take your (and AAFF's) advice now! :-)

I'm jealous but happy for those who had a great GTG this weekend. Lucky guys!

Get thee to a chiropractor GoT. Mine keeps me vertical (with my job I need lots of help!)

I went to Canada with my son for a few hours on Saturday and read a book on the beach while he went swimming. It was a glorious day.

On Sunday I went to Lewiston, a beautiful and historical little town a few miles north of Niagara Falls on the U.S. side for their annual art show. It was another beautiful day.

I was (am) sick with a cold and chair bound with a wretched twisted ankle. I have twisted this silly ankle three times this year. :-&lt;

<font color="orchid">BUT</font>, being chair bound gave me a chance to start planning my 2006 Christmas trip to Orlando 8}and a possible Harbour IslandB-) trip for next year June!

I usually hang out on the Africa site so even though I read this regularly, this is my first post.
I spent the weekend getting ready for my long anticipated, long awaited trip to Botswana! I fly out of Chicago this Saturday!
Travel Addict... I live in Grand Rapids, Mich too.I can really relate to your agonizing over having children vs. travel. I read that entire thread but didn't really have anything wise to add. It's such a personal decision. I love animals too (I'm a Vet Tech with 6 cats, 1 dog and 3 birds...I tell people it's an &quot;occupational hazard.&quot;)Maybe we can have our own GTG?
Lily

Hi Lily, when you return from what sounds like a fabulous trip, please e-mail me at heidi623 at gmail dot com so we can arrange a GTG in GR! Have a wonderful trip!

Travel Addict,

I'll be sure to do that! Thanks!
Lily