Well, I finally made it through my last day of work, and I am currently visiting the folks in SC. I am so ready for vacation, and it is so nice to think about having a month and a half off! I don't go back until the middle of June.
We have some fun things planned for the month of May. Aaron is taking a much needed 'man trip' with his pal Scott. They're camping and hiking down around Moab, Utah. I am visiting my parents for a week and then will be traveling back to San Fran for one night before journeying to Colorado for a couple of days. We leave next Sunday for a two week trip to Finland. It should be a very good time, and I will be journaling about our travels on the blog.
Aaron is due back to work at the end of May. I will spend the last couple of weeks of my vacation having girl time. Good times shall be had! I love having time off to reconnect with family and good friends!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
B-Day Weekend
This past weekend Aaron and I went to Guerneville for a night, which is a small town on the Russian River. There were plenty of giant Redwoods that never cease to amaze us, and we drank some lovely wines along the way. It was just really nice to get away for a couple of days and immerse ourselves into the peacefulness and beauty of small town California.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Watch out Julia Child!
The past week or so I have spent much time in the kitchen experimenting with various chicken recipes. Overall they have really turned out well and edible. Aaron at least has not complained. Now that I am back to eating meat, it is nice to cook meals for both of us to enjoy. I spent the early winter reading a couple of books about Julia Child, and she just inspired me to get in the kitchen and cook! Also, my sweet friend Lindsey sent me some kitchen-aid scissors and several of her favorite recipes in the mail recently after I complained about having no idea how to cook chicken. Just another reason to delve right in and give this cooking thing a try. I really don't believe in cooking for a man, but it is nice to see his face light up when he gets a home cooked meal.
Last night's phone conversation:
Aaron: I'll be home in a bit. What do you want to do for dinner??
Me: Oh, well I have a honey mustard chicken baking along with sauteed veggies and rice. I also bought one of our favorite beer to go along with it.
Aaron: SILENCE
Me: Oh my, is that not good for you? Did you want something else? Do you want to go out? I suppose I could turn off the oven. I mean you did work all day. Hmmmm....
Aaron: MORE SILENCE.
Aaron (finally and with complete disbelief): That sounds wonderful. I will be home as soon as possible.
Yep, Aaron can count on his two hands how many home cooked meals he has received since we have been married. But I started this new kick last week, and it has been so much fun. Parmesan chicken, Hungarian chicken, cornbread chicken bake and honey mustard chicken all prepared in less than one week! Get out!!?!?! I joined allrecipes.com, and sifting through various recipes has taken up much of my time lately. I plan to cook a Hungarian cabbage strudel sometime soon, and when I go visit Mom we're going to work on making bread together.
Well, I must get back to the kitchen... Tonight's menu consists of teriyaki salmon, glazed carrots, and rice. For dessert we will have tropical mango mousse. Hopefully the salmon will turn out as well as the many chicken recipes I made this past week!
Last night's phone conversation:
Aaron: I'll be home in a bit. What do you want to do for dinner??
Me: Oh, well I have a honey mustard chicken baking along with sauteed veggies and rice. I also bought one of our favorite beer to go along with it.
Aaron: SILENCE
Me: Oh my, is that not good for you? Did you want something else? Do you want to go out? I suppose I could turn off the oven. I mean you did work all day. Hmmmm....
Aaron: MORE SILENCE.
Aaron (finally and with complete disbelief): That sounds wonderful. I will be home as soon as possible.
Yep, Aaron can count on his two hands how many home cooked meals he has received since we have been married. But I started this new kick last week, and it has been so much fun. Parmesan chicken, Hungarian chicken, cornbread chicken bake and honey mustard chicken all prepared in less than one week! Get out!!?!?! I joined allrecipes.com, and sifting through various recipes has taken up much of my time lately. I plan to cook a Hungarian cabbage strudel sometime soon, and when I go visit Mom we're going to work on making bread together.
Well, I must get back to the kitchen... Tonight's menu consists of teriyaki salmon, glazed carrots, and rice. For dessert we will have tropical mango mousse. Hopefully the salmon will turn out as well as the many chicken recipes I made this past week!
Remembering an Old Friend
Today marks the fourth year since my beloved Fletcher passed away. Even though he was 'just a dog' and several years have gone by now, I still feel such sadness when I think about his death. We were so lucky to have one another, and I loved him so very much.
I had just relocated to the triangle area and was getting ready to start nursing school. There was just so much going on and the last thing I needed was to add a dog to the picture, but an acquaintance mentioned that we should make a quick trip to the shelter just for a look. I couldn't say no, and I thought we would just find her a cat and leave. We arrived to the SPCA and it was closed until noon, but there were pictures posted outside of the available pets up for adoption. That is when I first saw 'Igor.' A horrible name, but a precious dog with a rather quirky sounding personality from the description written below the picture. I knew we must return to have a look at this Igor dog.
We were there right when the doors opened at noon, and I told the clerk I was interested in visiting Igor. She assured me that he was one of her favorite dogs, and that he had been there for over a month. We walked to his little kennel area and it was love at first sight. He was nervous, but clearly adored the attention from our visit. His fur had been dyed various colors, and he cowered frequently so it was evident he had known some really hard times. It was definitely time for him to have a caring home. I would call him Fletcher. I had no idea what to do to prepare for his homecoming, so I had plenty of questions for the SPCA folks. It took about five days for the paperwork to go through before I could bring him home, so I was busy studying my nursing books and buying dog items. I received a call that week from the shelter to inform me that he had heart worm, and they asked me if I still wanted to proceed with the adoption. I did some quick research and found out that it was curable, so I said yes.
I remember the day I picked him up, and we were both so nervous. He got right into the back seat and pooped. Poor sweet dog. I laughed and just happily cleaned up the car when we got home, and that was the beginning of a wonderful three and a half years together. Just me and Fletcher. He taught me so much about responsibility, and when I had some pretty tough days at the beginning of my nursing career he was always at home happily waiting for his evening walk and dinner. He was certainly a quirky little guy. He had no idea how to play and was never a huge fan of Aaron, but he was happy and even outgrew his cowering over time. He loved walks in the woods, visiting my parents, cheap kibble, and just having quiet lazy days at home.
He actually passed away from lung cancer a couple of weeks after we got married. He spent an entire week in the ICU and then got to come home his last week. Overall he felt pretty good those final days. He still enjoyed his walks and meals, and I sometimes had a hard time believing that he was dying. But the vet was right and one night he could no longer walk or eat, and I knew it was time. Aaron got home from working night shift and we took him to the vet and had him put down. It was so difficult, but the right thing to do. There was such a void for several months, but time definitely heals and by mid-summer we were back to the shelter looking for another dog. It's probably kind of silly to write about him here four years later, but he was such an important part of my life and taught me so much in our short time together. He taught me to be glad, to be nice, and to remember that life is fragile. Pretty important lessons, and it's good to jot down to so that I don't forget.
I had just relocated to the triangle area and was getting ready to start nursing school. There was just so much going on and the last thing I needed was to add a dog to the picture, but an acquaintance mentioned that we should make a quick trip to the shelter just for a look. I couldn't say no, and I thought we would just find her a cat and leave. We arrived to the SPCA and it was closed until noon, but there were pictures posted outside of the available pets up for adoption. That is when I first saw 'Igor.' A horrible name, but a precious dog with a rather quirky sounding personality from the description written below the picture. I knew we must return to have a look at this Igor dog.
We were there right when the doors opened at noon, and I told the clerk I was interested in visiting Igor. She assured me that he was one of her favorite dogs, and that he had been there for over a month. We walked to his little kennel area and it was love at first sight. He was nervous, but clearly adored the attention from our visit. His fur had been dyed various colors, and he cowered frequently so it was evident he had known some really hard times. It was definitely time for him to have a caring home. I would call him Fletcher. I had no idea what to do to prepare for his homecoming, so I had plenty of questions for the SPCA folks. It took about five days for the paperwork to go through before I could bring him home, so I was busy studying my nursing books and buying dog items. I received a call that week from the shelter to inform me that he had heart worm, and they asked me if I still wanted to proceed with the adoption. I did some quick research and found out that it was curable, so I said yes.
I remember the day I picked him up, and we were both so nervous. He got right into the back seat and pooped. Poor sweet dog. I laughed and just happily cleaned up the car when we got home, and that was the beginning of a wonderful three and a half years together. Just me and Fletcher. He taught me so much about responsibility, and when I had some pretty tough days at the beginning of my nursing career he was always at home happily waiting for his evening walk and dinner. He was certainly a quirky little guy. He had no idea how to play and was never a huge fan of Aaron, but he was happy and even outgrew his cowering over time. He loved walks in the woods, visiting my parents, cheap kibble, and just having quiet lazy days at home.
He actually passed away from lung cancer a couple of weeks after we got married. He spent an entire week in the ICU and then got to come home his last week. Overall he felt pretty good those final days. He still enjoyed his walks and meals, and I sometimes had a hard time believing that he was dying. But the vet was right and one night he could no longer walk or eat, and I knew it was time. Aaron got home from working night shift and we took him to the vet and had him put down. It was so difficult, but the right thing to do. There was such a void for several months, but time definitely heals and by mid-summer we were back to the shelter looking for another dog. It's probably kind of silly to write about him here four years later, but he was such an important part of my life and taught me so much in our short time together. He taught me to be glad, to be nice, and to remember that life is fragile. Pretty important lessons, and it's good to jot down to so that I don't forget.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Weekend Wrap Up
This past weekend was jam packed with fun. I have to sum it up bullet style because if I don't, it might take forever to jot down.
-Friday afternoon consisted of taking Zuri to the beach (letting her run and attempting to work on her obedience skills) and then drinking a beer at the Beach Chalet. We met a very friendly Australian named Jane while sipping our brew. We had a lively discussion for a couple of hours before parting, and we even managed to get her contact information to stay with her on our next visit to Oz.
-Friday night we met up with a nice girl from my work and her boyfriend to drink a bit more beer at another brewery across town. This brewery is in an old warehouse, and it attracts all walks of life from around San Francisco. Very interesting people watching + fine beer = good fun! Before heading in we found ourselves at a local sausage shop. I got the vegan chicken apple that didn't taste anything like sausage, but it was edible with double the toppings.
-Saturday morning started out at the gym. My friend Lindsey came up from Palo Alto for the day. We started in our little neighborhood and then bused over to Japantown for the Cherry Blossom Festival. It wasn't too elaborate, but it was pleasant to walk around and enjoy the craft booths and watch some pretty intense martial art moves.
-During the afternoon we made our way to the marina, which is an upper class area. Lindsey and I found ourselves in some fun girlie shops while Aaron was surprisingly wandering through the Mac Store. I might have purchased some expensive lavender scented lotion. We all met up and found a nice wine bar to enjoy a glass before heading to our next destination.
-Dinner was in the Mission neighborhood, which is pretty much across town, and it is an entirely different world. This area has a large Hispanic population, so there are tacquerias galore. There also is a pretty high crime rate, even though I hear this is the up and coming place to live in San Francisco. We ate Mayan food at a little joint that someone recommended to us earlier during the day. Absolutely delicious! We then headed back home and called it a night.
-Sunday morning we had planned to go hiking, but we stayed in the city and found plenty of things to do instead. We went to 'Lindy in the Park' and learned to swing dance. Aaron already knows how to swing dance, so he has skill but tends to be a little too speedy in his lead role. This was interesting for his beginner partner, but I managed to walk away free of injury and have lots of fun.
-Lunch was at a small Russian cafe that I had recently found on the internet. We dined on perogis, borscht and Russian beer. The meal was so rich and heavy, and we both suffered heartburn the remainder of the day, but it was well worth it! Delicious!
-The park was hustle and bustle as we made our way home. We stopped to listen to a pops orchestra play at the outdoor pavilion. They played a wide assortment of music ranging from the 20s and 30s era to current Broadway music. It was perfect to sit, rest and let our full bellies digest lunch for a while.
-Our final stop for the day was a visit to the Anarchist Book Sale. What????? We just had to stop in and see what this involved. Mainly some crazy looking people who don't hold jobs trying to sell unwanted books and trinkets. We were certainly the most traditional looking people here, and Aaron even said, 'Jess, your hair isn't short enough. It needs to be shorter.' Ha! Most of the women had some pretty wild buzz cuts going on, but at least Aaron now knows that my hair could actually be shorter than it's current length. After all of this excitement, we headed home and called it a day.
It was a great weekend, and I love all the happenings here in the city. Here are a few pictures of our experiences.
-Friday afternoon consisted of taking Zuri to the beach (letting her run and attempting to work on her obedience skills) and then drinking a beer at the Beach Chalet. We met a very friendly Australian named Jane while sipping our brew. We had a lively discussion for a couple of hours before parting, and we even managed to get her contact information to stay with her on our next visit to Oz.
-Friday night we met up with a nice girl from my work and her boyfriend to drink a bit more beer at another brewery across town. This brewery is in an old warehouse, and it attracts all walks of life from around San Francisco. Very interesting people watching + fine beer = good fun! Before heading in we found ourselves at a local sausage shop. I got the vegan chicken apple that didn't taste anything like sausage, but it was edible with double the toppings.
-Saturday morning started out at the gym. My friend Lindsey came up from Palo Alto for the day. We started in our little neighborhood and then bused over to Japantown for the Cherry Blossom Festival. It wasn't too elaborate, but it was pleasant to walk around and enjoy the craft booths and watch some pretty intense martial art moves.
-During the afternoon we made our way to the marina, which is an upper class area. Lindsey and I found ourselves in some fun girlie shops while Aaron was surprisingly wandering through the Mac Store. I might have purchased some expensive lavender scented lotion. We all met up and found a nice wine bar to enjoy a glass before heading to our next destination.
-Dinner was in the Mission neighborhood, which is pretty much across town, and it is an entirely different world. This area has a large Hispanic population, so there are tacquerias galore. There also is a pretty high crime rate, even though I hear this is the up and coming place to live in San Francisco. We ate Mayan food at a little joint that someone recommended to us earlier during the day. Absolutely delicious! We then headed back home and called it a night.
-Sunday morning we had planned to go hiking, but we stayed in the city and found plenty of things to do instead. We went to 'Lindy in the Park' and learned to swing dance. Aaron already knows how to swing dance, so he has skill but tends to be a little too speedy in his lead role. This was interesting for his beginner partner, but I managed to walk away free of injury and have lots of fun.
-Lunch was at a small Russian cafe that I had recently found on the internet. We dined on perogis, borscht and Russian beer. The meal was so rich and heavy, and we both suffered heartburn the remainder of the day, but it was well worth it! Delicious!
-The park was hustle and bustle as we made our way home. We stopped to listen to a pops orchestra play at the outdoor pavilion. They played a wide assortment of music ranging from the 20s and 30s era to current Broadway music. It was perfect to sit, rest and let our full bellies digest lunch for a while.
-Our final stop for the day was a visit to the Anarchist Book Sale. What????? We just had to stop in and see what this involved. Mainly some crazy looking people who don't hold jobs trying to sell unwanted books and trinkets. We were certainly the most traditional looking people here, and Aaron even said, 'Jess, your hair isn't short enough. It needs to be shorter.' Ha! Most of the women had some pretty wild buzz cuts going on, but at least Aaron now knows that my hair could actually be shorter than it's current length. After all of this excitement, we headed home and called it a day.
It was a great weekend, and I love all the happenings here in the city. Here are a few pictures of our experiences.
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Past Couple of Weeks
The past couple of weeks have been busy and full of great times. Aaron's parents, Dean and Rosanne, just left town after spending two weeks in the area. They planned a fantastic trip, and with the exception of a couple of really rainy days in San Francisco, I think they had a wonderful adventure! The first week was spent in SF visiting the many attractions and taking a couple of day trips to nearby parks. On the days we had to work we all met in the evenings for dinner. They mastered the public transportation system taking the Muni out to our neighborhood most nights. You would never have known they were tourists! Aaron and I had so much fun showing them some of our favorite places throughout SF. We strolled through Golden Gate Park, walked part of The Land's End Trail, and drove over the amazing Golden Gate Bridge and up the winding hills of Marin County. Their final full day in the city ended up being rain free thankfully, and we wandered Fisherman's Wharf and ate some delicious crab cake sandwiches for lunch at Scoma's.
After their week in the city, they rented a car and we all met out in Windsor, CA, which is a smaller town northwest of Napa. I got to spend one night with them before heading back to work. The coastal area just east of Windsor is amazingly beautiful scattered with small quaint towns, rolling green hills (thanks to the recent rainfall) full of grazing cows and sheep, and tall cliffs overlooking the lovely Pacific Ocean. The wind blew like crazy, but that was okay. The sea was mesmerizing to watch with a fiercely strong current and enormous waves crashing against the rocks and towards the shore. We saw signs that said 'don't turn your back on the ocean.' There really is nothing as intimidating as the power of water. I absolutely loved this area of California, and I am so glad that Rosanne made reservations in Windsor or we may never have discovered it. Aaron and I must get back in the near future to revisit the quiet rolling hills before the tourist season begins.
After Windsor they headed to Half Moon Bay for a couple of nights and then on to Monterey for the remainder of their trip. Aaron and I love these places, so I am thrilled they got to experience both with quite nice weather. We met them down in Monterey for their final night in Cali, and as usual it was a lovely time. We spent the day wandering the coastline making our way towards Carmel. In the appropriate lighting the water was perfectly turquoise. Breathtaking! We spent the late afternoon walking along the beach in Carmel. This beach had been a favorite spot for Aaron's grandmother to visit when she vacationed to Monterey, so it was especially nice to take in the gorgeous views knowing she had spent happy times in this exact location. Very sweet. After the sunset we headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up for dinner. Dean and Rosanne treated us to an anniversary dinner (four beautiful years!) at a seafood restaurant on the waterfront in Monterey. It was just a really nice day!
The following morning we ate breakfast together and visited before they headed back to San Fran to fly home. It is always bittersweet to say goodbye. I am always amazed how well we all get along and how much we enjoy one another. It seems like kind of a unique thing these days, and I feel very fortunate to have such wonderful people in my life.
After their week in the city, they rented a car and we all met out in Windsor, CA, which is a smaller town northwest of Napa. I got to spend one night with them before heading back to work. The coastal area just east of Windsor is amazingly beautiful scattered with small quaint towns, rolling green hills (thanks to the recent rainfall) full of grazing cows and sheep, and tall cliffs overlooking the lovely Pacific Ocean. The wind blew like crazy, but that was okay. The sea was mesmerizing to watch with a fiercely strong current and enormous waves crashing against the rocks and towards the shore. We saw signs that said 'don't turn your back on the ocean.' There really is nothing as intimidating as the power of water. I absolutely loved this area of California, and I am so glad that Rosanne made reservations in Windsor or we may never have discovered it. Aaron and I must get back in the near future to revisit the quiet rolling hills before the tourist season begins.
After Windsor they headed to Half Moon Bay for a couple of nights and then on to Monterey for the remainder of their trip. Aaron and I love these places, so I am thrilled they got to experience both with quite nice weather. We met them down in Monterey for their final night in Cali, and as usual it was a lovely time. We spent the day wandering the coastline making our way towards Carmel. In the appropriate lighting the water was perfectly turquoise. Breathtaking! We spent the late afternoon walking along the beach in Carmel. This beach had been a favorite spot for Aaron's grandmother to visit when she vacationed to Monterey, so it was especially nice to take in the gorgeous views knowing she had spent happy times in this exact location. Very sweet. After the sunset we headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up for dinner. Dean and Rosanne treated us to an anniversary dinner (four beautiful years!) at a seafood restaurant on the waterfront in Monterey. It was just a really nice day!
The following morning we ate breakfast together and visited before they headed back to San Fran to fly home. It is always bittersweet to say goodbye. I am always amazed how well we all get along and how much we enjoy one another. It seems like kind of a unique thing these days, and I feel very fortunate to have such wonderful people in my life.
Coastline near Windsor
Windsor area
My In-Laws!
Windsor area
Aaron
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