Miami. Miami. Ain’t we got style. Blue skies sunshine white sands by the mile.
And away we go. Off to Miami to meet up with our friends who left on an earlier flight to board the MSC Divina. We have a fun filled week with stops in San Juan, St Maarten, and Nassau.
Will check in when I can.
Well it’s been a while but I’m still here. Been a very busy couple weeks. The Hubbys best friend came into town for Memorial Day weekend so the fun lasted for days.
We started on Friday with a trip to Medieval Times for dinner and a show. I was pleasantly surprised with the food and the show which were both really good. Even The Kid liked it. What I wasn’t surprised by was the gimmicky souvenir shop they corral you into prior to the show. We were team Black and white. Sadly team Red and Yellow won.
We always need a selfie when wearing a crown.
We unknowingly had front row seats to all the action
Saturday we spent the Day at our local amusement park. We bought the season passes on blank Friday at a nice discount so we had to get get them and enjoyed the day. It was super nice but unseasonably warm so the water park area was packed which made for shorter lines for the other rides.
Sunday was the official start of parade season. I had the first of what was supposed to be 3 Memorial Day parades but alas 2 of them that were supposed to be on Monday were canceled. This is the first time I can remember in my 22 years I can recall both parades being canceled.
The threat of rain (which ended around 9am) didn’t keep us from going forward with Meat-A-Palooza! Since I was home The Hubby and I went to work on clearing up the garage in case we needed to move the party indoors. Turned out we only needed the garage for the food tables it was a gorgeous day for a backyard shindig. We had about 30 or so people (honestly I didn’t count). I was so busy enjoying the day that the only picture I have is of the pork in its cooking stage so enjoy that.
So with Parade season starting out so dismally on memorial day we made up for it the last 2 weeks with 3 other parades, these are your standard issue Firemens parades complete with carnivals and Fire Apparatus. Below is a pic with my fancy feathered cap we wear. Beautiful isn’t it?
Well the last week of bowling has come and gone.
Game #1 – 158
Game #2 – 181
Game #3 – 128
My starting average going into the night was a 151 and stayed there.
We took 2 points for the week, having us finish the season in a respectable 5th Place.
So this past weekend was my 40th Birthday.
Naturally the celebrating started last Tuesday and concluded Monday night.
Tuesday night The Hubby, The Kid, My Dad and his Girlfriend all went out to the local German Buffet. I had been about 2 years since we went, since I was never sure if there were things The Kid would eat. As luck would have it he found many a thing to eat and we will once again be able to frequent the Buffet. We had a great time visiting with my Dad and his Lady Friend. Wednesday was another Buffet day this time for lunch with the Work Girls. Thursday was the Cupake Truck visit to the office but the height of the work celebrations was on Friday.
Every couple months or so my colleagues who sit around me and work in the Sales Dept decide to have a Pot Luck. April someone had the bright idea of it being a Cinco de Mayo theme, yes I know a week early, and my Sales Partner volunteered to bring dessert which happened to be a Birthday Cake for me.
Friday night The Hubby, The Kid, and I went to Red Robin for dinner, hey a free burger is a free burger. Not only did we get some Fancy Drinks, but we also got some fried pickles. I loves me some fried pickles. It was Burgers for me and The Hubby and ya know chicken fingers for the Kid cause that’s what Kids eat.
Saturday Morning (the actual day of my exiting of the birth canal) I got to sleep in until 8am! I know it was glorious, I was gifted with 2 cards, and a Pool float from the family. I was also finally let in on the surprises that lay ahead of me.
The first surprise was I had to pack the bag for The Kid so he could have a sleepover at my Brothers. Then I had to change the sheets so that The Nephew could stay the night with the Dogs, because the best surprise was we were spending the night in NYC just the Hubby and I.
But those weren’t the only surprises, The Hubby kept a couple things close to the vest until it was time to actually do them, but for the bulk of the day/night I knew was was planned. First up was dropping The Kid off at TaeKwonDo so we could escape into the City. Once in the city were heading to the Hotel, and waited for our friends Mike and Geoff to meet up with us.
While we were waiting for our friends the Hotel offered us a complimentary drink. The Hubby had a Gin Martini (the only proper Martini), and I had a Moscow Mule. This was one of the best Mules I have ever had.
From the Hotel we moved on to spend a couple hours at The High Line – The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. It really is remarkable that this place exists.
Since the weather was gorgeous, as you can see in the pics below, it was jam packed with quite a bit of eye candy for the 4 of us follow around.
After our walk we headed back to the Hotel Americano to change and relax a bit before we walked the 25 blocks north to meet 2 more friends Glenn and Bill for Birthday Dinner. The room was amazing, and small, but not amazingly small. The view was decent, I mean it is Chelsea so there isn’t much to see. It had all the comforts of an oversize Cruise ship room. The bathroom had a fabulous glass enclosed shower the actually looked out into the room. What I missed getting a picture of was the Beanbag chair that was in the corner, or the BJ chair as we called it.
To make our stay even that much more pleasurable the Hotel sent up a bottle of bubbly for us to enjoy before we headed out to dinner. It was a very nice way to start the evening, drinks with friends in a hotel room in the City.
The Dinner location was the 2nd to last last surprise that the Hubby wouldn’t give me any clue about. So we hoofed it up to Hell’s Kitchen and found our friends who, after the initial place they were thinking about going was too crowded, decided we would eat at a new place called The Jones. Not surprisingly there was a wait but only about a half an hour. We sidled up to the bar and had a round of drinks while we waited. A few had the Sangria, both red and white, the Hubby had a beer and a bourbon, and I went all fancy and had The Unicorn – Mt Gay Golden Rum, St Germaine, Fresh Squeezed Lemon and Ginger Beer, it was simply delicious.
We got our table and settled in and took it all in. The service was excellent, the ambience was eclectic, and the Bathroom had a Chalk Board which Mike proceeded to decorate, and then The Hubby and I followed suit (The Hubby added his name below mine upon his visit).
Dinner was AMAZING! We started with The Burnt Brussels Sprouts – Aged Parmesan, Fresh Herbs and House Aged Balsamic Gastrique, Coconut Braised Pulled Pork – Pasture Raised NY State Pork, Red Curry, Pine
apple Rum Reduction, Jalapeno and Toasted Peanuts, and the Thigh and Pie – Brooklyn Bourbon Brined Chicken, Smashed Sweet Potato Pie, Vermont Camembert and Chicken Chicharrón.
Geoff and I had the Pasta Special of the Day, Penne, Portabellos, Chicken and Bacon in a light white wine sauce. The Hubby, Glenn, and Mike had the Red Curry Roasted Chicken Breast – Roti Pancake, Baby Bok Choy and Baby Carrots with Kaffir Lime-Cilantro Butter, and Bill had the Mac and Jack – Wagon Wheel Pasta with Monterrey Jack Cheese and Frizzled Onions. There wasn’t a drop left of any of it by the time we finished.
The last surprise was the Dessert Location. No it’s not the place in the picture below, this was just a pit stop on the way to Baked by Melissa. What we got there is shown in the next picture. Cupcakes and Macarons, it’s a good thing they were tiny cause I could have eaten way more of them than I did.
The 6 of started with the 24 cupcakes but had to go back for a 12 spot of macarons (not pictured because we devoured them)
After Dessert we bid adieu to Glenn and Bill and Mike, Geoff, The Hubby, and I walked off all the dinner and dessert the 25 blocks back to the Hotel to make the 2nd costume change of the evening.
The Final stop of the night was The NY Eagle, this was a first time for The Hubby, Geoff and I ever going there, Mike had been there many moons ago. My bar outfit for the night was my Kilt, some boots we bought on the way into the city, and my Beardy Bear T-Shirt (which somehow fell off of me during our stay at the bar). We had a great time laughing, drinking, and checking out the sights. I think The Hubby and I agree we would definitely make another visit there at some point.
After a recovery day in bed catching up on my sleep we headed out to our last night of bowling (that’s another post). Monday night I finished up the celebrations at the Monthly Social Gathering at a local restaurant, it just happened to be my month to go.
So that about wraps up the week, the rain is in town for the foreseeable future and we have 5 Greyhounds laying about, our 2, the Foster who leaves next week, and 2 we are dog sitting until Sunday.
Well we were bumped to new lanes we have never bowled on this week due to a tournament. We still managed to hold our own.
Game #1 – 126
Game #2 – 156
Game #3 – 106
My starting average going into the night was a 152 and dropped again to 151. Not horrible but I’ve done better.
We took 3 points for the week, pushed up into 4th place going into position round. If we can hold steady and win all 4 points next week, and the first place team wins all 4 we have a chance of ending the season in 2nd place.
This week for the final week we play Team Up Your Alley.
I am nothing if not consistent, and a little late in getting this update out there.
Game #1 – 150
Game #2 – 153
Game #3 – 136
My starting average going into the night was a 153 but dropped slightly to 152. Let’s see how my new glasses help me out this week.
We took 0 points for the week, which dropped us into 6th place. Tonight is the last week of random generated teams so getting points is all that matters. Next week is the last week which means it’s position round. Tonight will decide where we may end up for the season.
This week we play Team Pinned Down.
Not a bad night, not a great night but we still had fun
Game #1 – 181
Game #2 – 133
Game #3 – 140
My starting average going into the night was a 153 and I get the feeling that is where it will sit til the end of the season.
We took 1 point for the week, and surprisingly we stayed in 3rd place which is good. We are only 2 more regular nights away from the last position round. We play the 2nd place team this week and I am hoping to overtake them in points.
Next week we play Team Here 4 Beer.
Moving on down…..
Game #1 – 181
Game #2 – 133
Game #3 – 140
My starting average going into the night was a 154 and it dropped slightly to 153
We took 0 points for the week, but we managed to only slip down to 3rd place but tied for 2nd due to pin counts.
Next week we play Team Thunderballs.
Easter seemed to have come out if nowhere.
We spent a low key holiday just the three of us and the puppies.
We had a lovely brunch out then a day at home just doing things around the house.
The disco eggs were only out for a week since I waited until after St Patrick’s day to decorate the cubicle.
The Hubby found this on Pinterest so The Kiddo and I had some fun making them to bring to my Dads house Saturday night.
Easter isn’t Easter without a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. All homemade of course.
The Kiddo helped set the table and insisted we all had to use fancy glasses. I had wine he had ginger ale.
I wanted something different for dinner so I decided on Stuffed Cabbage. It was missing something flavor wise but it was still delicious. The hack I used to get the cabbage leaves to wrap easily is one you wouldn’t even think of.
Core the head of the cabbage and place it in the freezer for 24-48 hours depending on the size of the head. Once fully frozen remove and put in a colander to thaw for another 12-24 hours. The leaves will peel off and be tender enough to wrap, no boiling necessary.
Here’s a closeup of the Peep Racecars. Aren’t they seriously cute.
This is Mama our latest foster dog. Isn’t she pretty. She was a brood mom after her raging days ended. Now it’s time for her to become a pet. Anyone interested?
No bowling this week due to the holiday so I’ll be bank next week with that update.
Next up on the schedule is The Kiddos birthday then mine.
Wahoo! Spring is in the Air and so are the balls
Game #1 – 148
Game #2 – 145
Game #3 – 155
My starting average going into the night was a 154 and there it stays again for another week, which really isn’t a bad thing.
We took 3 1/2 points for the week, yes we got another half point this season due to a tie in the first game this week. This puts us in 1st place!
Next week we play Team 69’ers.
Fear the Drum Major 