my hammock

thank you daddy :) there is nothing like watching the sun go down, or seeing the water stretch out to the south from my beautiful purple plumb hammock that I got in Cozumel. My dad installed it at Christmastime after much griping.

So after my debbie nasty complainer face post of yesterday I figure I owe my future family and their city some credit. When we arrived on Friday morning we went to THE BEST coffee in the world...Vivianno. Then we got home -- ate this amazing bread and cheeses and sausages that they get at their incredible grocery store. Think whole foods meets trader joes and 6 tanks of live crabs and lobsters. hung out with the fam, made some sweet love and got ready for our big night at our now traditional 9 course restaurant downtown. There was leek (?) soup, beets with hummus, filet tacos, fried bread with truffles, some kind of poultry that i forget now, an amazing cheese plate, dessert of rice pudding with blueberries, strawberry shortcake, and some kind of baked fruit. I'm surprised I can remember that because you get a new wine or cocktail with each course. It is truly an incredible experience.

Then off to meet the buddies for more drinks, the west coasts' finest, and irish jig dancing. Deep talks with his friends about girls that none of us remember. Then we decided to call it a night ...except i couldn't and my man couldn't drive. I insisted that we go catch a ride to a friend's house and then go in a cab from there. Well, turns out that is not the easiest thing to do at 4 am in the suburbs. we walked. and walked. and walked. for about 3 miles. in the rain. in my gorgeous blue strappy suede sandles that looked soooo cute with my blue and white polka dot dress :( we fell. we laughed. we talked. we probably fought. but we saw the sun (almost) come up which was something i had not experienced with him in a really long time, if ever. A good, wild night.

The next day ensued with a wretched hangover, so much that my favorite mother in law said we both smelled like booze. we lazed around watching the world cup and eating more fabulousness. finally managed to walk down to the shore of the lake near their house, and took the granddaughter to collect shells. i am very strange with children. They're cool, but i feel awkward with them never having really been around any. At first I was kind of jealous (i know, wtf???) and I wanted him all to myself for this sunny warm day on the beach. but it was cool to see him interact with her and just get to chill out and watch. she was better than me at climbing the trail, that is for sure. honestly i have some issues if i am jealous of a five year old child.

that night we fell asleep super early, probably jet leg. the next day was fourth of july so we went to his friends' boat house on the lake -- it was sunny when we got there, within 20 minutes it was foggy, rainy and cold. and it stayed that way for the next 30 hours. i spent fourth of july huddled in blankets and cashmere, still a tad hungover from the night two nights before. we played kings cup (hello college!!!) but so much fun and I ate more chips than any human should. we grilled sausages and watched amazing, 20 mminute long fireworks at which I jumped every time they ignited. my lover bear wanted to stay in after instead of going to the bar which suprised me somewhat but i was totally fine with passing out in this gorgeous sunroom on the lake and waiting for daylight.

In the am, we had pastries, swiss artisan bread selected by the swiss friend himself, and naaaasty coffee. we made our way back to mom and dad's for showers and headed to the university district and to have lunch with the sister. We went to a great little thai place with these amazing tumeric noodles and soup. we talked about her impedning law school decision and gave her a black's law dictionary. she's going through an almost divorce -- i hope she doesn't do it. its complicated but i really really think they need to work things out. anyway, none of my business.

we went back to the rents for dinner -- we did NOT stop eating...after buying ridiculous amounts of food at the market. so nice and fresh. I took the red eye home compliments of sister's friends' pill prescribed by her doctor in Austria. ok. I slept well enough and was able to bill 6 and change on Tuesday, no small feat.

so that was that.

tonight was t road after work, and I considered the irony of my ex Jeff having taken me on our first date there and i was so wierded out by the place. never thought I would meet my future hubby there some two years later. love it.