Monday, February 28, 2011

#29. Culinary Adventures for Oscar

Is it ridiculous that when shopping for a mansion house condo itty bitty living space that the only thing I really truly cared about was the kitchen? Okay and maybe having a washer/dryer. And lots of closet space. And a parking spot. And some other 10100984309384091257 things (I sincerely thank the Lord that Mr. Awesome only really wanted a living room big enough for his seriously ginormous tv. We are so compatible sometimes I think, and that is just the nicest thought of all).

But seriously, it was the kitchen that would make or break the place for me. There was no settling. I was going to have a fabuloso kitchen or nothing at all. It was the hard and fast rule de queen anne. Off with their heads! Let's play croquet! (can you tell I just re-read Alice & Wonderland? it was oooh sooooo gooooood).

found on Google Images search
Okay, where was I going with this? You don't know? Ha! Well, me either. We are officially screwed....or this post will be rather bi-polar. That could be fun. Let's continue, shall we?

Anyhow, I love kitchens. If I could, I would spend all day with the shiny countertops and the gadgets and the neatly arranged cupboards with everything having its' own little spot and everything in its' own little spot and man! do I love order.

So, yesterday, was the day of ME! I'd had it with Monday through Saturday, so Sunday was my girl. She and I were going to have a grand ol' time. And most of my grand ol' times happen in that mecca called MY KITCHEN. And Sunday, well she did not disappoint. I don't know if my happiness or Mr. Awesome's stomach was bigger by the end of the night. I'm gonna go with the happiness factor because there is almost nothing I like more than to win (WINNER! like Charlie Sheen. oh man, did I just compare myself to CharChar the nut? Well, yes I did. There it is, out there. Can't be taken back. Sighhhhhh).

Are you waiting for me to get to the point? HERE IT IS....

I did SO many things yesterday I'd never done before in my kitchen heaven. I made:

  1. Ribs! seriously, I did. Well, the crockpot had a mighty large hand in my rib-making but I stirred that sucker for 8 hours. On & off. Like every other hour. Give or take a bit. So like 3 times (this is my blog, I suppose I should be honest.) 
  2. the best roasted potatoes EVER. Is that too bold? Well too bad because it's true! I've been trying to perfect the roasted crispiness of Aunt Jane's 'taters forevvvvvvvvs and last night, my dream came true. Yes, I think I ate a bazillion potatoes. Made myself a little potato baby stomach and all. Yes, I regretted it this morning. Yes, I will probably have the leftovers for dinner tonight.
  3. poached eggs have you ever done this? If so, will you give me some tips? The egg whites kinda foamed themselves to the top and promptly turned this nasty brown color that ever Mr. Awesome the Bottomless Pit Who Eats Everything and Anything No Shame! No Shame! thought looked funktastic and wouldn't even touch with the ladle!, and the yolks were solid not runny, but they still tasted pretty delish. I will try again...some day but not soon.
  4. roasted asparagus. okay that is a cheater culinary adventure because I have certainly made asparagus before. But indulge me a bit, deal? It was the day of ME! and I'm going to count it.




Don't you wish you were our dinner guest? Don't you, Zack? Well, we had a super sweet awesome time without you, mister! I'm not bitter. Not at all.

And I got to stalk the audience for little Davy last night while the Oscars were on. Using DVR, aka the best invention known to man, so I could skip all the boring categories and commercials. Ha!

But really, I love me those Franco brothers. Seriously. They are adorable. And I know them! So I'm basically famous, too. (This day of ME! thing miiiiiiiight be going to my head, just putting it out there).

And...THE END.

Whew. This post was exhausting. If you are still reading, wow. You have some brain power. And patience. And I would like to borrow some when you get the chance!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

#28. Workin' It

I would just like you to be informed...that while you are doing whatever you are doing on this GLO-HO-HO-HOOOOORIOUS Saturday, I am preparing to kick arse & take names in my midterm.

What? You don't take pictures when procrastinating studying?

I am hoping for a victory by 4.30 o'clock. Send back-ups if I am not out within the hour. 

Studying on a Saturday blows chunks. Yes, yes it does.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

#27. Cellos Rock

Did you know, sister friends are the best kind of friends? Oh heck yes they are! It is so paiiiiiiiinfully obvious but I will spell it out for you anyways. Friends are great, sisters are awesome, but sister friends are the best things in the entire world. If you're even thinking of asking "why" right now, just don't. We won't get along very well after that, believe you me!

But in case you'd like me to elaborate just where this verbal (written? hmm I don't know how to classify this) declaration for the umpteenth time is coming from, you are in luck. I will do just that. I am so nice. Buy me something pretty.

I love learning things from my sister friends because, for pretty much 97.865% of the time, what they love, I love, and what they hate, revolts me.

Speaking of revolting, here is a tidbit I shared with my sister friend Marge yesterday via text:
I just hiccuped so hard I vomited. thought ud appreciate the share! I love u
See? Aren't sister friends the best? And revolting, yes, it's true.

So anyhooooooooizzle, this is what Margie-pants shared with me in return today:
A man who can rock out on a cello, lift it above his head, and keep jamming out is my kind of rock and roll man.
(ps - she's quite funny, isn't she?)
(pps - those are her real thoughts, fyi. not a quote. well, i guess it's a quote now!)

And you know what? I totally 1 bazillion percent agree. Cellos rock! If you don't believe me, well then obvi you are not a sister friend. And obvi you haven't gone here. Hello! get with the program! (says the girl who had never heard of this band till this morning).


ps - isn't the yellow hat dude adorrrrrrrrrable? i love him. especially when his hat falls off and the lead dude laughs. at the Grammys. amazeballs.

rock on with your bad self
xoxo

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

#26. Not Everyone Can be a BA

I have a knack for abbrev's, yes I do. Except for the shortened form of the word "pounds" (ugh, don't even get me started!), I love to abbrev and do it almost (okay, definitely) excessively. It's great fun and makes life so much more efficient and I really truly think everyone loves it. Especially Mr. Awesome. How do I know? Well, sometimes he tries to steal my abbrev's or make up some of his own, which is just plain silly because, while I love him, he just doesn't have the knack like I do.  They just kinda fall dead on their faces and he's standing there waiting for the world to laugh and love and it just doesn't happen. Breaks my lil' heart.

(don't worry, LOML; i promise to always abbrev enough for the both of us. ooh, should that be part of our marriage vows? hmm highly possible!)

But, let's be serious (LBS!), sometimes you have to speak in whole words. Annoying, yes, but necessary in places like, oh, the office or with customer service phone reps or when ordering subway sandwiches (turk n picks please! doesn't get translated very well; trust me). This all results in the frequency of my abbrev's reaching an all-time low lately (living far apart from sister-friends doesn't help either!) and so I shocked even myself this past week in creating a whole new abbrev, which the Awesome man & I are now using quite excessively, quite!

Are you ready? Here it is....

(drumroll, please..........!)

B.A.
used to describe all things relating to my awesomeness and things or others i find awesome and worthy of the designation

use it. love it. spread it. but not as much as Mr. Awesome. The excessive use of the word is reserved solely for yours truly because, let's face it, the rest of the world is just not as BA as me. And because 
I do what I waaaaaaaaaaant!
(another pretty BA phrase coined and used to excess by moi)

Friday, February 18, 2011

#24. Friday Flowers

What did I do to deserve this?

Nothing, I tell you. Abso-frickin-lutely nothing.

Think he'll still do this 50 years from now? I kinda think he will; he's just that great. 

#23. Slacker-like Tendencies

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

#22. What did you do at work today?

Because I did this:

Top that!

Some days, I don't mind this job so much. Some days...!

#21. I can sew!

Did you know that? Because I didn't! And, frankly, I was quite doubtful about the whole enterprise. But it was either endeavor to hold my sleeve up with one hand for the rest of my life (or portion thereof that I spend wearing my favorite gray wooley sweater-dress, which is quite a significant portion indeed!) and spend the night doing homework or go head-to-head with the needle and thread (ooh I rhymed without trying! seriously, LOVE when that happens). What would you choose?

Obviously, I went with the latter and here's how the whole thing went down. 

I'm sitting in a (boring) meeting, minding my own business, trying desperately to fake interest in whatever was being written on the flip chart about D3 learners and whether they come from being a D4 or a D2 and what do I care blah blah blah when I feel a strange sensation on my left arm. It wasn't a tickle and it wasn't a breeze but it was feeling a little peculiar. So subtly I shift my right arm to touch my left and assume my best "hmm yes that is soooo interesting" thinking position and then promptly launch into a bit of a panic. My sleeve is no longer being held up in that adorable little scrunchy casual fashion meaning...

WHERE
IS
MY
BUTTON
?

I do a little ants-in-my-pants dance in my seat, trying to scavenge the floor for said button, even making up imaginary rules like if I find it, I will run an extra mile today or I will volunteer to actually explain the flip chart or I will shave my legs...you know, promises of GARGANTUAN proportions. But, to no avail. The missing buttons gods did not see fit to reward my offers of sacrifice and so, all day long, nothing could usurp the fugliness of my lopsided dress from the #1 spot in my mind.

Being a proud Type A, though, I was preeeeeeeeeeetty sure that in my sewing box at home, I had saved the extra button from the dress, labeled and such like all good Type A's do, so I counted down the hours till I could race out of there. And, of course, I was right.

So, I carefully lay out my dress, new button, an entire package of needles (because you just never know...and because it had never been opened before!) and the matching wooley gray string. And then

I
SAT
THERE.

I had no idea what to do next! Do I start from the inside or the outside? Do I tie both ends of the string into a knot together or just one end? How thick does this freakin knot have to be (FOUR times over. FOUR! seriously)? Now how in the heck do I tie knot at the end? Did I just put it on backwards? YES! YES I DID!

But, you know, I'm no quitter. And when I'm procrastinating from doing homework, man, nothing can break my concentration. So I labored, maybe I even broke a sweat (I'll never tell) and my dress is now gloriously symmetrical again. 

What do you do when you accomplish a major feat? Take a picture? Dang right that's what you do!



And then you celebrate with some of this...


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

#20. Is this Hawaii? No! It's Google!

Is there anything more likely to turn that frown upside down than a rainbow? Is there? Because, if so, please send a little bit my way! Until then, this is definitely good enough...


Sunday, February 13, 2011

#19. Ranger Nancy is my Valentine


Tell me, now, that Ranger Nancy isn't the most amazing person ever. Ever! I spent Valentine's Eve with her and my life was forever changed. Forever! Exclamation point! Do you think she knows how much I love her? Think she knows how much I care? Oh wait, those are lyrics to Fever. Whatever. She's still amazeballs.

Here are some of the gems she gave Mr. Awesome & I on our super-creepy nighttime tour of Alcatraz (yes that was my Valentine's Day present from Mr. Awesome and yes I squealed with excitement. Best. Gift. Ever.):

"Mush, mush, people! Let's go!"

"This tunnel was built, oh well, hmm let's see. It was one of those years, I mean, I just can't keep all these things straight."
               Editor's note: this was the only date she had to give us on the whole tour
"He tried to run me over! Me!" when the cart bringing people who couldn't walk up the hill asked her to move out of the way.

"Well there's a video you can watch down in the library. I think it's about the escapees. I mean, how should I know? The title doesn't give you a very good description, now does it?"

So, now maybe you are thinking that Ranger Nancy makes a pretty lousy tour guide. You may be thinking correctly. But she made me laugh the whole time. Which helped because, let's be honest, I was a wee bit scared for most of the tour. Just a wee bit. 
Look how freakin' excited I am!
Ahh! I'm finally going!
These are my friends, Lazy, Hazy & Jumper McGee
Chris behind bars. Usually he's just in them :) haha
You can't see it, but that's the rock behind us. Ooooh, scary darkness!


I have the best Valentine ever, huh?

Friday, February 11, 2011

#18. Taco & Movie Night w Mr. Awesome

Tell me, is there anything more wonderful than the comfort of your own home? Maybe the comfort of your own home plus a Mr. Awesome to cuddle up beside on the couch?
He's saying "My love, come sit right here!"
Alternate translation "Quit taking pictures, I feel awkward, can we eat already?"
Plus a movie you've been waiting to see for ohhhhhhh about three years (yes, I have a life! and no, I don't watch that many movies. seriously. it's kind of embarrassing)? Plus a deliciously cooked meal that takes all of 10 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to eat plus some laughing at Mr. Awesome who doesn't know how to make a taco, so tries for a burrito and ends up spilling half of the ten-pound creature all over kingdom come because even it won't fit into his ginormous-sized mouth?

Yea...I didn't think so. It's a wonderful life (and, yes, that's a movie I've actually seen!)

Thursday, February 10, 2011

#17. I do NOT talk on my Cell Phone in Public Bathrooms

Here I go again. Are you ready? Because, truth be told, I've been in need of some up-cheering lately and what better way to do so than to toot your own horn (by the way, isn't that the greatest phrase ever invented!)? So, TOOT TOOT, the Anne Horn is sounding off. 

I am PROUD of the fact that I do not, never ever, in a million bazillion years plus a gazillion lifetimes, talk on my phone in public bathrooms. I mean

ARE
YOU
KIDDING
ME?

Not only has it been said that flushing the toilet can cause particles from said toilet to land up to SIX FEET away (seriously, don't forget to put your toothbrush in a drawer or with a handy dandy cover!) but there are other people in there!! Other people with weird sounds coming out of them!

It's
just
plain
grossssssssssssssssss

EW

And how exactly do you explain those noises or the flush of the toilet to your cell phone companion. "Hey, what was that? Are...are you in the bathroom?" "No, no don't be silly. That was just the cat coughing up a hairball." "You're a cat person? I'm hanging up now..."

So basically what I'm saying is that you lose your friends either way. Just don't do it, people. Just don't. You will thank me later, I am sure. You're welcome!


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

#16. The Black-Haired Kids

Must love dogs should have been a requirement to get into the family. However, had that been the case, neither Papa John nor I would have been admitted to the fun. Sadness, I know! But as a little kid, I just didn't want to get diiiiiiiirty and dogs were diiiiiiiiiirty. Bummer, Basil, Babe, Spot, Buddy - all of them outdoor lovelies who just couldn't get enough of the dirt and the mud and then jumping on all four feet nothing of little ol' me - it's enough to scare the beejeezus outta anyone, I tell ya! And it probably didn't help that Mama Wills would threaten to leave us and take only the dogs when we were bad...which was pretty much all the time with 5 girls in the house!

But then came along Jilly & Bean's rolly-polly goodness and something changed. For one, they got to stay inside for most of the time, thus eliminating much of the diiiiiiiiiirty dilemma. For another, they were just adorable and cuddly and uber snobbish (Jilly) and Eeyore-ish-ly depressed (Bean). I'd never seen such personalities in dogs up close before and my soft feelings got the better of me and I LoVeD them....after, of course, the first weekend we met in which they woke me up at 4:45am to piddle all over me while in bed and then ate ONE of my favorite sneakers. One! What was I supposed to do with one ruined, one fabulous? Le sigh...

Tomorrow, the little monsters turn 7 and I wish I were home to celebrate. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. I love those little suckers as if they were my own brother & sister...which of course, we tell them that they are. They've got Papa John's black hair (and they're also starting to go gray just like him, too, heehee!).

Happy Birthday, J&B! Here's my best impression of you...see the family resemblance???

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

#25. Margaret!

I know what you're thinking. Really, I do, and not in a creepy way. I'm Just. That. Good. (yesssssssssss)

You are thinking:
Wait a minute! #25? Where the heck did that come from? Aren't we just somewhere in the 'teens? Has this chick lost her bananas?
The answer, my friends, is probably. But in this case, no. Today, of all fine days, we launch the 
ODE TO MARGARET
because my dear darling sister is turning the ripe ol' age of 25! Yahoo!

(PS, Margie, it's a fun year. I still remember mine. Great things happen in year 25! And...look how stinkin' cute you were! And still are! Good work, you!)

So, friends, let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we? It will be fun, I promise! And either way, you kinda have to play along because this is my blog and I say so. It just works like that. I'm sorry.



Megs, remember when you tried to run away? That was stupid (no offense). Little itty bitty Mary in her diapers and little t-shirt just up and walked away while Dr. J & I hung out watching tv. We quickly improved upon our babysitting skills, but man! did you give us all a scare. Well, if we're being honest here (and why wouldn't we?), Dr. J & I were more scared of getting in trouble, but I sure am glad you found your way home! That was definitely the beginning of your Little Stinker Phase, to put it lightly haha.



Remember when you moved to USC? And we stood in line all day to get you registered and moved into Parkside? And then you cried a whole lot and stayed with me at the Pink Party Palace until you absolutely had to go home because you were already homesick? Remember how you joined Theta with me and were so proud of yourself for fooling me that you were picking a different house? My favorite memories of your freshman year were our weekly sushi nights at the LC while I worked the Wednesday night shift and you spoiled me with your way-too-big food meal plan freshman year (shh...don't tell Dad!). I loved getting to hang out with you every week and bond over california rolls and coke zero. It was awesome. Remember when you worked in the LC after I graduated and now Dan the Bossman doesn't even remember me? Remember when you moved in the PPP and renamed it your senior year? Remember how our lives were basically the same awesomeness until you graduated and left me for the freezing cold Chicago? REMEMBER??? Because I do and I'm still sad every day :(



And, now Miss Margaret, this is the most important one of all, I dare say...remember when we became best friends? Little by little when I came to rely on you more than anyone else. I remember how you held my hand and gave me hugs when I went through that horrible-awful-time-not-to-be-mentioned my last semester at USC and I felt all alone, so alone. I remember how we didn't fully let Mr. Awesome in until you had come back from Italy and given your stamp of approval. I remember how you called me every day when Mr. Awesome & I went through our not-so-awesome hiccup. And how you kept the biggest secret of all that I never ever thought you capable of because, let's be serious, friends don't make secrets, sisters should never have secrets, and sister friends don't even know what that word means! And of all the sister friends, Sister Mary Margaret doesn't like secrets the most haha. How you kept Mr. Awesome's visit to ask Dad if he could marry me a secret for MONTHS! I will never, ever know. Sharing is caring and you care so much and love so much and I am the luckiest girl in the world to have you as my sister friend.

I will never vote you off the island. Even if you stay in Chicago forever.

I wanted a picture of you & me here, but you are just so stinkin' pretty in this picture (and real life! it's true!) that I couldn't help but post this one. Awww...pretty girl!


Monday, February 7, 2011

#15. Sunday Bakery at Chez Trester

Head Chef moi
(minus the mustache plus some boobs and a waaaaaaaay cuter apron!)
What do you do when you're bored? If you're Mr. Awesome, you watch sports and play MarioKart (which, he claims, is also a sport. Uh huh...). If you're one fabulous Annabelle Williams soon-to-be Trester, you bake. 

(P.S. Mr. Awesome, upon reading this blog, thought that I should be referring to myself not as soon-to-be Trester, but soon-to-be Awesome. SOON-TO-BE?!?!? Oh, buddy....am I not already Awesome? Really? Yea...that's what I thought! Anyhoo, onwards & upwards...back to baking!)

The fruits of my labor yesterday were a GINORMOUS! bowl of puppy chow, couple dozen oatmeal chocolate chip with a few (just a few!) raisin cookies, and pumpkin spice muffins. Oh, and pomegranate guacamole, roasted cauliflour and turkey tenderloin because while I am an excellent baker, my chef'ing skills are pretty fab, too. And...we needed dinner.

But more important than recognizing my culinary achievements, I think I would like to take a moment of silence for the fallen soldiers of yesterday's battle in the kitchen:

1. half a bag of newly opened powered sugar
cause of death - accidental tippage into the sink and down the drain
means of proper burial - garbage disposal, which also shot back up half the sugar and into my hair. silver fox?  why yes I am!

2. a whole freakin' lot of peanut butter & chocolate melted deliciousness 
cause of death - burned solid into the stovetop while I was trying to understand W.T.H. was going on in the movie Rocknrolla...so confused STILL
means of proper burial - 30 mins with the not-so-nice side of a sponge

3. favorite green spatula from Williams-Sonoma
cause of (almost) death - impatience of one fabulous baker who didn't want to turn off the mixer while scraping the sides of the bowl
means of recovery - cutting off the plastic parts that started to shred so no one can tell means it never happened, right? right?

There are always a few casualties in any good battle, but we triumphed, oh yes. And ooooh victory tastes so sweet, it's true!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

#14. For the Love of Hot Pink Lipstick

I found myself in the need of some up-cheering. No particular reason but truth be told, I was wallowing in it. So, into the bathroom I went and found myself, totally unaware, applying

HOT
PINK
LIPSTICK.

Not gloss, not shimmer, but lipstick, people. You know, the thing your Nana wears? Can you be 27 and wear lipstick and still look yourself in the eye? And, more importantly, can hot pink lipstick do the trick to pull you out of a funk?


I emerge with lips duly painted to find Mr. Awesome at work in the living room/kitchen/breakfast nook/office.

Me: I am feeling needy.
Mr. Awesome: What can I do to help?
Me: I would like you to choose a snack. And then I will purchase/make said snack.
Mr. Awesome: Okay but only something little b/c dinner is in an hour & a half (what a buzz kill, he is).
Me: I knoooooow but I am grumbly in my tumbly.

So down I go to Falletti's (which by the way, is the greatest invention known to man. Grocery store beneath apartment. Glorious!) and wander around trying to find parmesean-flavored goldfish (Mr. Awesome's favorite and mine, too, b/c when he's happy, I'm happy). "Cute shoes!" I hear and instantly, mood rockets up a notch (and, truth be told, they are pretty stinkin' cute!). Wander, wander, wander, up and down each aisle, and let me tell you...I found a whole list of things to improve said mood:

1. Canned pumpkin - I have been searching for Libby's canned pumpkin for weeks! It just cannot be found! And then, lo and behold, there it was, singing, beckoning to me...buy me! buy me! Canned pumpkin + spice cake mix + 3T water = best muffins EVER AND EVER AMEN.

2.  Tortilla chips, on sale! - did I ever tell you how many bags of tortilla chips we eat in this household? And by we, I do not mean we. I mean Mr. Awesome and his love affair with the crunchy corn variety. If it were possible, he'd leave me for them, of this I am certain. But then, who would make his guac for him? EXACTLY!

3. The biggest jalapeno pepper EVER - it made me laugh out loud. I don't even like jalapenos, but into my arms it went b/c holy cow it was ginormous...and I figured I could throw it into the pomegranate guac we are making tomorrow and it will be a hit AND a hoot! Bang, bang for your buck!

4. Coke Zero - because seriously, caffeine perks me riiiiiiight up. And then I crash. But the up is so gooooood, I can't stop.

5.  Parmesean Goldfish - did you think I forgot? Nay, I am like an elephant who never (okay sometimes/sorta/most of the time) forgets. But not today, hooray!

And so now I am drinking my Zero and snacking on my 'fish and my mood is better. 

But, seriously, can you wear hot pink lipstick? Of this, I am not sure.

#13. Meet Me at the Alamo (Square)

I threw a big stinkin' fit yesterday (totally unlike me, I know). Remember how excited I was to drink champagne in the park? Well, then I changed my mind and decided to be Stressball Anne, because sometimes, you've just got to put up with me and my changing moods. Stressball Anne went on and on and on about how much she had to do, how silly things like work and buying face lotion and drying her hair were eating up HER LIFE (yes, seriously, those were my complaints) and that she

just
couldn't
take
it
anymore.

So did we go to the park? Of course we did! But oh did Stressball Anne grumble the whole way. Did she publicly voice her desire to kick a little mangy nasty horrible rat dog? Yes, she did (don't judge. You know you want to, too!). 

Watch out, ratdog!

But little by little, Stressball Anne went away. 

She took off her shoes.

She popped open that bottle of champagne.
Shhhh don't tell!

And, yes indeed, she looked over at that adorable soulmate of hers

and enjoyed the sunshine (and of course, the champagne). Both very good for the soul.

The end.
Thank you, Alamo Square, for restoring my calm (from both me and Mr. Awesome, who I think just couldn't take Stressball Anne anymore no matter how hard he tried!).






Friday, February 4, 2011

#12. Sunshine & Champagne

Oh, January. Forgive me for being rude, but I am not sad to see you go. February has arrived and it is BEAUTIFUL here in the City. Like 64 degrees beautiful. Like wow. And there is sunshine! Sunshine, for crying out loud, is there anything one could possibly love more than sunshine? I think not. So...hello, February.

February, you are my FAVORITE.

In the February sunshine, Bike & I took a ride. And saw this:


Sigh, I live in the best place on earth. 

While on our way home, we took a detour to ride along Ocean Beach. I sashayed my ponytail back and forth as I imagine all beach beauties would, narrowly missing an old man on a lowercase-b bike and a runner (oh I wanted to be that runner!), and then wound our way up and over and through Golden Gate Park where we were cheered on enthusiastically by another biker as I kick-pushed up the hills with all my might. He must've known I needed some encouragement for if no one were watching, I would've gotten off and walked. Yes, yes I would. No shame here, people!

As I sit here staring out my window at the glorious February sunshine, contemplating how exactly I can avoid the onslaught of emails from work or the impending research for my paper due Sunday (Sunday! ahh!) comes ping! and I am again reminded why I am the luckiest girl on earth:

Mr. Awesome: i thought maybe 4pm when i cruise back...alamo square
Mr. Awesome: hang out on a blanket
Mr. Awesome: get our relax on
Mr. Awesome: maybe bring some champagne or something and just chill

So champagne in the park on a glorious Friday afternoon? Why yes, yes I will.

Winter in California...so nice :)
Sorry east coasters...

Ed Bachrach  /  AP