Been a busy few weeks but I've managed to escape to Annapolis most weekends to sail. The season in winding down & it is depressing--I have to accept that summer is over! But, one more race this weekend & believe it or not, it's up in Baltimore! I'm very excited by this because I NEVER get to race in Baltimore. See the link:
http://www.bcya.com/hcup/index.htm
And even better both Xing Fu & my kid will be sailing with me! The best of all worlds! What an awesome way to end my racing season. Actually, there is one more race that I'll be in--it is the Left-over Bowl the Saturday after Thanksgiving--all of the left-over & unclaimed prizes from the summer are up for grabs depending upon how you finish the race--fun! But I am really looking forward to the regatta this Saturday & will enjoy racing in waters that I grew up on--I will be channeling my grandfather & hope he's looking down from the great ocean in the sky as I race towards the Key Bridge....
On to the fun--Sunday was a Spooky Wine tasting party at my friend C's house in Annapolis--it was great to see a lot of our sailing friends & the wines were very good--of course after a while they all kinda blended together--even I had to admit by that point that the Merlots even tasted good! Me? Merlot? Bleh!!
But here is a picture of some of what we had:
And today I found out that this blog was nominated for a "Mobbie"; the Baltimore Sun's contest for Maryland's outstanding blogs. How cool is that? So everyone vote for this blog starting October 29th. All two of my readers!
This weekend was all about finishing my house. The general contractor is getting closer to the finish line & Xing Fu & I took Friday off to spend the weekend getting to my finish line--de-clutter, dump, & purge all of the 11 years of stuff accumulated. The house looks nothing like it did about a month ago & it really is looking like a house that is ready to be listed for sale--which kinda blows my mind. The end is in sight--we're on the home stretch & now this house thing feels more like a reality instead of a pipe dream--I think it really hit me when my BFF(A) came down to inspect the changes yesterday.
We'd gone down into my wine cellar to look at all of my boxes--Xing Fu & I spent a lot of time boxing up all of my wine--well, only about half thus far--12 boxes & about 100 more bottles to go. As BFF(A) & I looked around the cellar--the wine racks stacked & empty & all of the boxes neatly labelled with what was inside (PN=Pinot Noir, CdR=Cotes de Rhone, e.g.), & she said, "I can't believe that you're going to leave." It's true--I've lived down the street & her family was one of the first we met in the neighborhood. Our sons have gone to the same schools together since kindergarten & only pursued their own pathways this year by going to different private schools. We've spent so many summers having impromptu barbeques & crab feasts & driven our kids back & forth to dances. It is going to be so strange not to be in the same neighborhood anymore. Same kinda feeling for BFF(J) too. Her hubby remarked that it would be different when we move because our boys won't be 5 minutes from each other anymore--15 minutes to be exact. Just dropping my son off at their house will take a little more planning now--I truly hope that it will not change things too much. On one hand, I am excited for the future & my life together with Xing Fu but on the other, I'm scared that my friendships (& my son's) with my BFFs will change significantly as well--will wine tasting Saturdays be as easy as they are now when I move?
Been a nice weekend. It wasn't one that I shared with Xing Fu but doesn't matter so much at this point--had plenty to do. One biggy was meeting up with my crew down in Annapolis for the J-30 one-design awards luncheon. As always, it was great to see everyone--I have found that I miss them quite a lot & am looking forward to April 16th--the first regatta of the season. My calendar is already marked with the major races & my folks already know that this summer they will be taking my son down to North Carolina for camp as that same weekend is Screwpile. As I drove into Annapolis, I looked out over the harbor & it was just a a wee bit depressing seeing very few sticks at AYC & the snowy frost rimming the water...sigh, April is a long way off.
Also spent a nice bit of time with my BFFs--big wine tasting this weekend--major stock-up at one place & of course we finished out out our usual haunt, tasting some really nice cabs. Actually went twice--BFF(J) made me go when all I wanted to do was get a coffee at Starbucks (the wine store is next door) and hustle down to Annapolis in time for the luncheon. So I tried a few in a real rush & then at leisure after the luncheon when I came back. This year there weren't so many sold out by the end of the day so we didn't miss much. But as usual it was just great being with my friends--all of them this weekend--wish I didn't need to go back to work--I wanna sail! But, the Ravens won--woohoo!
Another great weekend for the record books. It was busy in fits & starts & somewhat a domestic weekend but I guess that's what happens when the leaves fall, there's frost on the ground, sailing is essentially over for the season, & you feel like hibernating. Saturday afternoon we went wine tasting--my BFFs joined us & we enjoyed conversation with all of the regulars; guess we're regulars too. Had a very nice Cab from Darioush called the Caravan--I recommend it. We'd planned to go out Saturday night but just couldn't muster the energy--not a loss though--quiet evening at home--simple but fun & believe it or not we were up until 2--as if we'd gone out--go figure. We just got caught up watching Hedwig & the Angry Inch again--
and discussing all the levels that strike us so deeply. Hence, yesterday's post of the lyrics to Wicked Little Town. We figured we'd watch it again in another 8 months--we seem to have a lot of magical thinking--and certainly the movie itself can lend itself to that. I think it's good that we do--keeps our relationship special & reminds us of some of the things that happened to us early on--our synchronicity--
that's what's great about this blog in some respects--we can look back on our "magical thinking" & revisit those first stirrings--helps to bring us back to that place that can get lost when everyday life gets in the way.
Next day we had a brunch date with one of Xing Fu's co-workers and then tickets to the Ravens game. We had reservations at Corks, a great restaurant (My sis & I had been there once) in Federal Hill--super wine list--& I was thrilled to see that they carried many of the bottles I have in my own cellar--oh the prices!! Nice little investment I've got--such a satisfying feeling that the wine cellar I've put together has in it some stellar pieces. Anyway, after a couple very good Bloody Marys,
a wonderful brunch, & some schmoozing with the chef & owner of Corks--we were off to the game. We had some pretty amazing seats--lower level just at the 30 yard line. Certainly was a great game to watch especially since we won. It was great company, not too cold, & Xing Fu & I just had a enjoyable time--just so easy--no drama--fun. Simple & lasting.
"Behind bad luck comes good luck."
--from a fortune cookie I had on Friday night
When I wrote my last blog post about being lucky, I never realized how true that theme would follow throughout the weekend...
Our plan for Friday was to go have dinner in Chinatown down in DC & then go to the 9:30 Club to see Nada Surf. Funny again how things come full circle. The last time I saw Nada Surf was with the Bull & we also ate dinner (actually late night @ 1:30 AM) at one of the best authentic Chinese restaurants in DC called Full Kee on H Street. First lucky was finding on-street parking rather quickly--it was hopping on Friday--I think everyone & his brother was out enjoying the warm night. When we got to the restaurant there was a bit of a line & we became concerned that by the time we were seated & eating, we might miss the 10:30 start for Nada Surf. Luckily, the line moved rather quickly & we were soon seated in a relatively quiet back corner with the requisite Chinese Zodiac place mats. We immediately looked to see if we were compatible. Xing Fu is a Rabbit & I am a Sheep & of course we are the most compatible--do I need to say anything more? Having done a bit of research, I knew what to order that would yield the best results. The outstanding dish was the Oyster Casserole--the oysters were plump & HUGE and the delicate fresh ginger sauce was amazing. It was a great dinner & we agreed to go back again. Out the door & on our way to the 9:30 Club--we made it, found great floor spots, & the band started 5 minutes later--LUCKY. It was a great show--enjoyed hearing the songs that I know so well & they can really rock during their live show--At the end of the show, the drummer threw out one drumstick & lucky as the theme has been, Xing Fu caught it! That night we stayed up talking almost until sunrise--we just have so much to talk about--it is amazing that there are so many levels that we connect on.
Saturday was another beautiful & jam-packed day. We decided to go to Cylburn for a picnic before wine tasting with BFF(A). Cylburn was simply delightful & we shared a nice white wine with prosciutto di parma, strawberries, cheese & crackers to go alongside. It was so nice just to enjoy the sun, we had briefly thought about finding a spot along the water as we are both jonesing for a sail, especially since the weather was so perfect & racing season is so close; we were missing the water. After our picnic, we swing by & pick up my BFF(A) for winetasting. We then were having dinner all together & watching the Final Four games--of course with a careful eye on the WV-Duke game. It was a packed day & very nice evening & the luck continued with the teams going on to the championship--my bracket looks pretty good right about now despite so many upsets...
On Sunday, we parted for most of the day as we both had much to accomplish before the work week & my son was coming home after a busy weekend himself. BFF(A) & I decided to be ladies of leisure, relaxing outside in the sun & reading magazines--always a rare occurrence. It was nice to have girlfriend time & not have to worry about anything--our boys were out riding bikes & helping her husband do yard work. Later, Xing Fu came back for dinner & our busy weekend ended.
Xing Fu & I realized that Luck did figure prominently all weekend--all I can say is that I am lucky to have found such a great guy--we really are great compliments to each other & everyday that becomes clearer.
This weekend was a whirlwind of massive proportions--I don't think I checked Facebook or any other emails the entire weekend--just so much going on--I even meant to blog a little but just never got to it. Being back at TKD is wonderful! I am sore but I am just so happy to be back on the mat...feels like coming home. That was Friday night. Saturday brought the annual Bowing Ceremony--for some reason this year there were a lot of tears--it was very moving. Both my son & I received a rare hug from our Grandmaster, which was very nice--a good feeling going into my son's Demo Team performance today. I am always grateful to be part of this group of people--TKD isn't just a sport--it's a caring & supportive community--
Prior to the Bowing Ceremony it was the obligatory Wine Tasting with the best friends, although this time Xing Fu joined us. This was also the first time BFF(A) met him so another test of a sort. Also, since SM was also there, it was kind of a slightly awkward moment as I watched for reactions from both guys--they both knew of the other's existence--but in this case most of my attention was where it needed to be (of course the wine!) but mostly on Xing Fu. My BFF(J) said that SM seemed a little like a lost puppy...not so sure about that, but what can I say? Missed opportunity.
Saturday evening Xing Fu & I had some fun music plans....the rescheduled Alex Gray Winter Solstice Festival. No longer Winter Solstice but it was cool just the same. A great local band, Telesma, with all types of musical instruments, including a didgeridoo, played some intense music while Alex Grey & his wife Allison painted original works. Amazing talent was on serious display--super show & a lot of fun.
After the concert Xing Fu & I found ourselves talking until 4 in the morning--we always have so much to say to each other & just laughing--he is so easy to be with--I always enjoy our time together--again I say, I am a lucky gal! Even now as I write, I have a huge grin on my face...
Today was my son's Demo Team--they kicked ass! I was so proud of the team--synchronized to the max--just awesome!
Later dinner with Xing Fu & then home to wrap the weekend--it was massive--I was surrounded by the people I care about & am grateful for--again, lucky, lucky, lucky...Karma can be a very good thing!
can be a very good thing when stressed out about a black belt test. It has been a very troubling few practice times recently. Nothing has gone right. My breaking seminar failed to produce the desired effects: both the cinder blocks as well as the boards & recently all my forms classes have proven to show, well, bad forms--bad kicking, wrong arm placement, forgotten steps...you get the idea. When I acted in shows in high school & beyond, we always talked about bad dress rehearsals yielding great opening nights. That's what I hope will happen on Saturday during the test. Since everything has gone badly just prior to the test, maybe the test itself will be phenomenal. I can only hope....
Anyhoo--I know this massage therapist that I have seen at most of the wine tastings I go to. He & I have talked over the past few months & recently I got up the nerve to ask for a massage. I admit--ulterior motive here. Yes, he's cute, yes, he appreciates good wines, & yes, getting a massage can be a wonderful prelude to, well, do I have to spell it out???!!! I admit--my massage fantasies have taken hold here. So he & I make an appointment for today & I tell him that after the massage I'll show him my wine cellar--wink, wink, nudge, nudge. I am such a bad girl....In reality though, the massage was great & he only charged me for a half hour when he gave me about an hour & 20 minute massage. I feel so much more relaxed & mentally prepared for this ordeal on Saturday so if nothing else, my body is in a better place. I do show him my collection & we pick out a nice, mid-priced Pinot Noir from 2004. Truchard--great bouquet & really a straightforward Pinot. We enjoyed it & I think, getting to know one another better--in fact, we have plans for Thursday to open yet another bottle from my collection--go ahead, twist my arm! I can't resist a good massage done by a cute guy with a nice wine to enjoy after.....it is so great being off from work these few days....I am getting caught up on my naughtier side which recently I've neglected--hello wicked girl! Ah yes, deep tissue rubs & Pinot Noirs--what more can a girl want? Wait--don't answer that! I'll keep you posted....
Turns out that I won't be sailing this weekend. Actually should spend a little time with my BFFs since we actually haven't hung together for what seems like at least 3 weeks or so. Also have a lot going on in town too--my former mother-in-law is very sick with pancreatic cancer & the chemo has been stopped. She is in Hospice at home so I need to take my son to see her in Bethesda on Saturday because it appears her time is drawing near. I've been trying to prepare my son for the inevitable & he appears to be handling it fairly well but he'll need to see her before she loses the ability to know who everyone is, etc. My biological dad passed from cancer & the end was not pretty. He needs to see her before she looks too sick & scary. I have always had very mixed feelings about my MIL. She has always made excuses for my ex's behaviors & really never supported us when we were married but I've always maintained a cordial relationship with her--even with some fondness for her traditions. She is very British. I can appreciate her love of the Holidays--she used to cook amazing meals--love her Cottage Pie in particular. We've certainly had an interesting relationship through the years--I think she's come to appreciate me quite a bit recently since her new DIL is such a poor excuse. Ah well. At least my son will always remember her with only positives. My ex is flying in next weekend to visit her & he's planning to see our son as well so at least a visitation will happen since my son won't be going back out to Illinois anytime soon if the grandfather continues his 4 pack a day habit.
Another reason to stick around is the fitness test for my Black Belt test. I have to pass this in order to test on June 20th for my second degree. It consists of 150 push-ups, 150 sit-ups, 100 yd dash, a 50 m duck walk, & a 3 mile run. I am a little bit concerned about this--my body may not be able to do this but I guess I gotta try....
And maybe we may be able to squeeze in a little wine tasting too--haven't been in a while. Oh--and perhaps tonight going to see a great band at the 8X10--Papa Grows Funk. I really haven't done much to help my social life recently--except drink like a fish at the Miles. Which, if I recall, wasn't exactly a good way to meet new men when you are acting stupid. Note to self: don't do that again...
All this after TKD class too--maybe I do have a lot to do this weekend after all.
It is not easy having a long distance relationship. Now one could say that the Bull & I really aren't long distance--DC really isn't that far away. But it really is--we really only see each other once a week because of our schedules so that kinda sucks..that gives me a lot of time to think--and that my friends can be a bad thing for me...& because we'd been apart for two weeks, my inner crazy went a little bit haywire. Instead of the whole "absence makes the..." thing, I was busy thinking things like "O--this is over, & we are on the outs"...I can be such a twit. I'm not really sure what I was worried about. Of course never let it be said that he makes our relationship easy--all day Saturday I don't hear from him & when I called he never picked up--so of course that fueled the inner crazy even more. If it weren't for my next door neighbor & my BFF(A)(formerly BFF (1), I think I would've gone off into loo-loo ville. Actually, my BFF said she was counting the lights on Reisterstown Rd until we got to our first wine tasting--she kept saying that she needed to get some wine in me so I could relax--boy was she right. By the time we left for the 2nd tasting, I was much less crazed & was thinking that maybe not having the Bull around might be preferable to my crazy dance. In fact, my head was clear enough, or maybe not, to decide that there were three really decent wines to buy: 7 Deadly Zins, a nice Septima Malbec, & petite shiraz by Dancing Coyote.
We arrive to our second tasting & the Bull calls--by this time the edge is off & I'm able to kid him about his behavior so he knows I'm not going to jump down his throat. It was a good thing because everyone knows that crazy women do not go over well in relationships. I can only blame it on hormonal imbalances & the fact that I was feeling a little beat up anyway--work on Friday was not good & I think it took even more of a toll on me than I had thought. We hang up--he's on his way & I tell him to call when he gets to my exit. BFF(A) & I go into the wine shop & begin our Italy wine tour. The Bull is now texting me about why he didn't call all day & tells me that he overdid it Friday night so he had been very tired all day & didn't feel like getting going. Which makes complete sense to me--since that is his typical behavior--I just don't like it at my expense. He says he's on the Baltimore beltway & to let him know where I am. We continue tasting & move on to the beers. We were talking to the cute guy serving beers & I was just texting that we were still at the wine store when there is a tap on my shoulder. I turn around & there he is & all my angst is forgotten--I am truly a wuss. All I can think is that I really missed him & was glad he was there. It was a very cute reunion--major points earned for showing up at the wine store.
I did talk to the Bull about his behavior though & he did say he wouldn't do it again--I told him that although I appear tough on the outside, I am quite mushy inside & get easily hurt--so stop it. We had a wonderful dinner at the Helmand to celebrate that the Bull got a new job...yes--good news in this horrible economy--the Bull will start tomorrow & it appears that all is well between us as he will be staying all weekend next week. But the roller coaster ride continues & my deadline is looming. I still can't decide what to do....
