corner turned

After nine days of total uselessness, two visits to urgent care, piles of medicine, and ridiculous hours of TV, I've turned the corner, just in time to almost go back to work again. It was a pretty grim time.

The silver lining is that it reminded me just how much Boyfriend loves me (and vice versa), and how lucky we are to have found each other in this big world.

third time

Saw Hamilton again yesterday with Boyfriend and a couple of friends, then got dinner at a Mexican

seafood place. Going to a concert next weekend and then Jesus Christ Superstar in a few weeks. It's a good month for live shows!

rolling with it

The utterly busy relaxation, the mindless plans, and the class excitement of safari are so awesome. More stars in Botswana than even Namibia, and lots of big cats eating their kills. My camera has decided it only wants to work intermittently with a lot of fussing, so I won't get as many great shots, but the theme of this trip, what with its last minute genesis, Boyfriend's passport issues, and my camera, seems to be "roll with it," and it seems to be something I'm getting better at with time. Simple pleasures like a cozy bed on a cold desert night, hot porridge with honey before the sun comes up, a lazy afternoon nap in between game drives, and the unexpected click of the shutter when my camera decides it's willing to take a photo, all of these are delightful bits of each day.

date day

Took the day off with Boyfriend, slept in, went to a nearly empty matinee showing of a fun movie.

free stuff

Boyfriend still works at my old company, and came home with a ton of free hardware. New computers, new WiFi, new home devices, lots of new toys!!

make me laugh

When Boyfriend makes me laugh, he really makes me laugh, whether it's through absurd IM conversations about a fake company we could start, or through violent dancing to Journey songs, he fully understands my love of everything absurd.

big day

40!! Perfect day to finish off a great weekend. Friday, got to try a 50-year old whiskey at work, then went for lobster rolls with Boyfriend and college friends who were in town. Yesterday, went for soup dumplings with Boyfriend, a work buddy, and my friend that he's dating, then went out for cocktails and way too much dinner with one of my girl friends. Today, I lazed around a bit before doing a bit of yoga, taking care of Henry's weekly hygiene routine, and running a few errands (including lots of returns), timing them perfectly (this is so satisfying) to arrive at the spa with enough time to settle in and relax before my massage. Drank a glass of birthday champagne and read for a while before then indulging in 45 minutes of sauna, steam room, and cold showers, then scrubbed up and came home to eat a home cooked meal with Boyfriend.

This is just the beginning, and 40 is already looking pretty great.

breaking it down

So in retrospect, it was a nearly perfect weekend, and it's because it had a bunch of different things: gorgeous weather, chill time with the dog and Boyfriend, books and TV, girl friends and gossip, double date cards and absurd musical instruments, returning things for refunds, overdue pedicure, incredible massage with unexpected foot crack, and steam room. Need to remember this secret formula for the future...

chicken skin

Boyfriend has started saving chicken skin and broiling it into delicious chips for me.

easily impressed

Just blew Boyfriend's mind by using a Tide pen to erase blood stains that the dog tracked all over the couch.

nihon

Time to go eat things in Japan!!

sent

Finally got the first wave of invitations sent out for our crazy summer camp, and it's fun to see the RSVPs coming in. Can't wait!

good times

Happy times with old friends and new, more free time than I've had in a year, more time with the boyfriend than I've had this year, some quality reading time, extra sleep, pretty dives with great coral, fish I'd never seen before, and a sea snake, which I haven't seen since 2003.

Back to reality and I was actually ready for it this time. I've got my dog back. My co-workers missed me, my CEO gave me a raise and told me that I've been working hard and doing a good job, and there is so much going on to jump right back in and keep having fun. Also, I had a one day work week, and tomorrow, I landed a sweet reservation for dinner, just in time to wear one last rented dress before I send them back in.

on the books

Summer Camp 2018 is in the works!!!!

love and chaos

A parade of family, friends, and food ensured that I had lots of belly laughs and a full belly all weekend, even while working on and off. Now, half a day to read, watch TV with Boyfriend, try to recover from this cold, and prepare for whatever the week may bring.

eight years

Friday was my last day of work, and it also happened to be my eight year anniversary with Boyfriend.

throwback

Law school friends came over, so the house had eight adults, three kids, and a dog. It was good to catch up and see what people are up to, and yet another reassuring data point that we really are quite happy not having children. Life is busy enough to then go and get rid of what calm parts remain.

fully booked

India is officially booked!

reservations

No idea how I just scored a dinner reservation for Boyfriend's birthday this weekend at the specific restaurant he wants to go to, when they're usually booked out a month in advance for weekend reservations, but I'll take it.

best idea

Yesterday, I may have had the best idea for how Boyfriend and I should celebrate our 40th/50th birthdays, 10th anniversary, and some kind of wedding thing in a couple years: adult summer camp. No kids, less ceremony, more time, lots of activities. I'm kind of excited to see if it would work.