Bring it on, that is. I'?m up ridiculously early, prepping for the approaching vacation time. Yessir, prepping and trying to wrap up work projects, bills, house duties, and everything else that could potentially unravel in my three-week absence.
It'?s been a great month. First off, let'?s talk about hockey. Kevin'?s birthday was last Friday, and he just happens to have a friend who dates a girl who works for Albertson'?s Corp who... Well, we ended up scoring some hockey tickets and celebrating from
Lauren had never been to a hockey game before. Heck, listen to me, I'?ve only been to one; though I'?ve watched a few games on TV. During the first brawl I watched her reactions more than I watched the fisticuffs: "?What the hell!? They just let them fight!? Why doesn'?t someone break it up!? What kind of a sport is this!?"? In addition to the big-boy ballet on ice, we also enjoyed listening to Trevor'?s endless supply of personal near-death experiences. At age 23 he'?s been stabbed twice (once by a brother), severed three fingers in a table saw (had all three re-attached but now lacks all feeling... which spawned another story of blistering his fingers on a hot burner completely unawares while his girlfriend screamed in horror), and a day spent snowboarding with a shattered shoulder and ribs (all trying to maintain a cool-guy I'?m-not-hurt attitude for his snowboarding date). Wow. Add to that the inter-familial brawl in the suite next to us and you'?ve got an exciting night on the town.
We all went down to Estrella last night; a new tapas bar downtown created by the owners of the Milky Way. Not too shabby, but not geared toward the penny-pinching grad student. Plus, I had high expectations for authentic Spanish tapas, which were of course unfulfilled. I had a phenomenal martini mixed with Apricot Liquor, Cava, and fresh-squeezed OJ, but for $8.00 a pop I was limited to one. Ouch, an $8 drink in
The plan: Lauren and I head out in two hours for the cabin. We went to the Co-op (chicken coop, that place was beyond busy yesterday) and plumped a good chunk of cash for some fancy cheese. Get this: we'?ve decided to eat cheap and easy meals, but to wine and dine with aperitifs and beverages in-between. Time to crack open that Spanish Champagne we got from Dykstra for our two-year anniversary, thinly slice the stinky cheese, and pretend we do it all the time. The weather'?s been dumping moisture (the frozen dandruff kind) into the mountains so we'?ll log some epic hikes and refuel on cheese alone. I'?ll let you know how my body holds up after such a diet.
OK, back to it. This is an exciting time for sure; cabin, Christmas, Arizona warmth, then the final chapter of grad school. OK.
