the Elder Aviator

The lead up to the weekend - and I do hope that I'm not overselling the weekend - is a fairly quiet week.  Last night was just a pork tenderloin for dinner and Top Chef to catch up on.  I did try a new cocktail for us, though, using up my last lemon:  the Elder Aviator.  A spin on an Aviation, but elderflower liqueur instead of creme de violette.  A nice enough drink.

Alright, onward to the weekend ahead.  A few days away from the blog (most likely), but more to come after the party! 

Tuesday night

I've been quiet for a few days, I know.  Blame it on there not being much going on.  Blame it in part on the after effects of my second shingles vaccine this past weekend.  Whoa, did that knock me for a loop.

I was doing alright by last night, happily.  Weekly television date night at Van's for me.  We started with cocktails outside - such nice weather for sitting outside, and boding well for the party this weekend.  Olive at our feet, freshly groomed earlier in the day. 

A round of Naked and Famous cocktails for us (plus chips to much on!),

then I poured Van the little amount in the sidecar shaker and went and made myself a Champs-Élysées. 

We heated some food we'd picked up for dinner, enjoyed that, and then turned our attention to what was a not-great episode of American Idol.  A mild and easy evening, and not the most exciting to report on, I know, but hey, the cocktail photos look nice!

last weekend of April

Sunday evening here.  Dinner is done, dishes are done.  We're all caught up on Top Chef.  My arm hurts, but not terribly so at this moment - I had my second (and last) shingles vaccine today.  I've arranged tomorrow so I can work at home in case it feels worse (I've been told the second shot is worse than the second, and the first was painful for a few days).  I've had a day of walking Olive and getting the vaccine and grocery shopping and making banana bread and napping and cooking dinner.  Now to finish up the weekend with a blog entry on the weekend that was.

I have nothing to share about Friday.  There was a work event that had me at the library until 6 that day.  I then came home and had a very basic meal that was essentially instant ramen noodles and frozen peas.  Yep.  I have my cheats.  Nothing to drink.  I had to pick up Conrad at about 9 at Burbank Airport.  Got him home, wound down, headed to bed.  And that was Friday!

Saturday morning we headed out for a walk.  We hadn't done a walk together since our last morning in Boston, and even that was a little shorter than usual.  So it was nice to get out for a few miles or so on a mildly cool and cloudy morning.  Of course we ended up at Amara. 

Arepa for me, breakfast croissant for Conrad, and lattes. 

That felt like a little return to home and normalcy.  Very welcome.

Saturday was consumed with laundry and a few other things at home.  I always like when we get some things done but not too much.  Enough to feel accomplished but not so much that we don't feel relaxed.  A good balance during the day.  Come 5:00, and we were heading for the car to drive to Van's.

Weeks back, Van's dear friend and former colleague, Mitch,

celebrated his 65th birthday (my gosh, all the birthdays we celebrate these days are in the 50s to 70s).  Alas, a dental emergency on his end meant that we had to postpone dinner out together until last night.  We met him and his husband, Ted,

in Santa Monica at The Georgian. 

It seems to be the place we go to for special occasions now, and I'm not upset about that.  They frown on photos inside, so I really have none of the dinner, but good cocktails, an excellent tuna tartare, and a tasty steak for me.  It was a lovely evening in a terrific setting, so good to see them again.

I was up before 7 this morning despite how cozy bed was.  Conrad and I got some gear on and a harness and leash on Olive and took her out for a walk.  Shockingly, Van was awake and out of bed before 9, so we popped up to Starbucks for the three of us and then talked a little about the plans for next weekend's party.  And then it was on to the day that I outlined above.  I made a simple dinner for us - a couple of mediocre tuna steaks with some rice and boy choy.  Conrad made himself a martini, I had a Naked and Famous, and we sat outside despite how chilly it felt to us.

Time to wind down here.  Monday will come soon.  May you have had a good weekend wherever you are! 

he's back!

It's Saturday morning, there is laundry on the go, I have been working on the planning and such for next week's cocktail party.  A walk was done.  Breakfast was done.  Saturday, back to normal.  And you know what's the biggest and best part of that?  Conrad is home!  Yay!

Onward with the weekend! 

morning walks

After all the spring break posts, how about a short, simple one?  Some photos from around town on morning walks this week.  Buildings, flowers, blue skies. 

The cough is easing up nicely, happily, and I feel like I can get out and about a little bit more.  Longest walk in several days for me today.  Yay!

Happy Thursday! 

spring break vacation, Day 8

All good vacations come to an end, alas.  It's not so bad, I guess - I often find that the bedding and pillows on hotel room beds are the worst part of any vacation, and it's a delightful relief to crawl into my own bed after I have returned home.  And as much as I love to dine out, I find that my system appreciates it when I eat at home and eat a little simpler.  The joys of getting older, right?

We did have a good half day in Boston before needing to head to the airport.  We duly got our walking gear on

and headed around the Seaport area (once we got our Starbucks to start the day!).  It was a beautiful spring morning once again,

which promised for an on-time and easy departure later.  We strolled, taking photos, then headed back to the hotel for a bite of breakfast and final packing.

We also had time for brunch before heading to Logan.  I steered us to Row 34 for a bite.  A Hugh-No Spritz (non-alcoholic) for me,

a few oysters to share,

a tasty but maybe a little too garlicky avocado and crab toast,

and we had suitable food in our bellies.  Nice place though it felt like we were sort of stranded in this weird family room and with a somewhat indifferent server.  Still, I'd go back to try it again.

On to the airport where we parked in the lounge a goodly while before boarding our first flight. 

A connection in Chicago,

and we were on the ground at LAX late that night.  Bed, when we crawled into it somewhere around 1 in the morning, felt really darn good. 

taking care of the LG

One more spring break entry to come, and it will come soon enough (but wow, is spring break ever feeling a long time ago now), but I thought it would be good to break up the installments.  So let's check in on more recent goings-on, shall we?

Not that there really are any.  The big thing last week, other than the Samara Joy show I couldn't take photos at and the continued battle with whatever nuisance of a cough I have, was taking care of Olive while Van was enjoying a vacation of his own.  She puts up with me, she adores Conrad. 

Mind you, Conrad is adorable. 

But it was an easy time with her.  She's low maintenance other than turning up her nose at an occasional treat that she decides she doesn't like.

Conrad is now in Atlanta the rest of the week, and I'll spend a few nights with Van, catching up, hearing about his vacation, watching our television shows.  But yes, that will give me more time with the Little Girl!