Burning Love

                As we all know, Valentine’s Day was last week.  Did you have a good one?  What did you do?  I need ideas for next year, and the year after.
             
               Personally, I’m a fan of any day Boyfriend feels obligated to bring me flowers.  He’s always been good about celebrating this girly day with me and this year was no exception.  Forgoing crowded restaurants over the weekend and definitely on Tuesday he suggested doing crab legs at home.  I’m pretty sure there is no better meal than king crab legs.

                What I didn’t know was king crab legs cost $27/lb to buy them.  So I’m standing in the store, staring at the price tag and considering what kind of effort it is going to require, on my part, to eat these particular crab legs.  Now after Christmas we went to Shimshacks per a Christmas gift certificate from Boyfriend’s mom and got their Viking platter of seafood for like $75. (Marilyn Monroe and Joe D ate there.  It's charming in it's own, teal colored way.) On this platter we got a pound of crab, hot AND cracked for us, four lobster tails, and shrimp scampi.  Plus it included two salads and two appetizers that were also sea food. 

                Instead, we decided to grab two lobster tails and two bacon wrapped filets, at a more ideal price point.  Boyfriend mans the seafood, my job is to cook everything else.  That’s how it’s always been, that may not be how it remains. 

                I had never done steaks, and especially a bacon wrapped filets, in the house. Ever.  Obv while the lobster tails defrosted I Googled what I was supposed to do.  I’m not one to take a single website at it’s first word so I cross checked the recommendations against three or four websites.  It said, heat pan with oil and sear each side of the filet for three minutes before finishing in the oven.  On it.

                I watch a lot of Food Network.   These shows have taught me to never put fish or meat in a cold pan.  Cold pans = sticking.  I know this. 

                Boyfriend threw the lobster in to heat up.  And I had the filets out to warm to room temperature.  I turned my pan on to medium high.  Waited a minute, added my oil to fill the bottom of the pan, dropped in my filet to sear it and got two feet of flames.   Literally.  Twenty-four inches.  Licking up around the microwave that is the hood of my stove.  Boyfriend grabbed the pan so now we’re both standing in the middle of the kitchen, him holding fire, me trying to decide if it’s going to go down on its own or how to get to the baking soda, which is on the other side of the flames, in the pantry.

   

                After about 30 seconds we’ve figured out that grease fires do not, in fact, go out on their own and I would have to get the baking soda.  I ducked around the flames, grabbed the baking soda and threw it over his shoulder putting out the fire.  I consider myself a hero.  Boyfriend does not agree. But somehow, I managed to not completely cover the filet in baking soda when I doused the fire and since I’m a good girlfriend and choose to eat the less fortunate steak always, my stomach votes hero.  I should give him credit though, for not just throwing out my dinner.

                After further review, I learned that butter is the better choice for steak searing purposes.  And then my BFF told me, one week late, I am supposed to put the oil in a COLD pan and let them heat up together.  Welldoesn’tthatjustmakeawholellotofsense.  Thanks a lot internet for not being specific on A.) the amount of oil to be used. B.) when to add said oil. Also, news to me, apparently you need a minuscule amount of oil.

                So.  Now I know.

                I chose not to sear his filet and just toss that little guy in the oven.  He chose to give me a side-eye and judge me every 30 seconds for the next two days.  I also suggested we choose not to light the candles on our dining room table for the romantic dinner.  I do, however, say yes to Federal Meats for providing me with melt-in-your-mouth dinner even for those who are not particularly talented in preparing them.

                I may have deserved the side-eye - our house smelled of bonfire for the next two whole days.

Salvageable?  I say yes.  He says no.  Please vote.

                

               Also - he was way cute and super thoughtful and got me some new jams.  Apparently I tend to “look like a homeless person for sleeping.”  I’m certain I don’t know why that would be a problem, but I’ll take some cute jams as an acceptable alternative.

                But, it was kind of my idea.  I may or may not have asked for these a month ago as a joke.  He said my idea needed some modification.  He might be right.  He also said that he would not buy me those for Valentine's Day because “you would look like Ralphie from A Christmas Story".  Sooo...are you saying that's not sexy?  Maybe I can get some hoodie-footies next time. 

 Cross your fingers.

                

Serendipity

                I don’t know about you but I…took the long way around when it comes to love. Where I come from it’s a land of high school sweethearts and quick weddings right out of high school.  You can ask anyone who knew me from my prior life, that this girl has never quite fit that mold.  And that’s not to say I didn’t try.  I have a high school yearbook with statements like “invite me to your wedding.”  Wait. What?

                I went away to college.  Learned who I was, separate and independent of everyone and everything.  Then I graduated, and stated working and “dating” Mr. Big himself.  No seriously, HBO people came to Western NY, creeped in his window and went back and scripted that Sex and the City character.  I walked away from that a bruised spirit with a jaded impression of love and perhaps even life.

                I was a young, 23 year old, new job, new apartment, looking to make sense of where she’s at. And in one of those seemingly, serendipitous moments that can have no explanation other than providence, I meet Him.   He’d dodged this application training for over a year, I’d just started the new job and needed to learn the tools.  All the people I knew got there before me, and no one saved me a seat.  I grabbed the first empty, next to some guy.  He’d seen my name, I’d heard his cursed in staff meetings as notoriously unresponsive.  And in a moment of innocence, perhaps with intention to flirt I clicked on MLB.com.   With an instantaneous whisper from the seat next to me confirming I was checking in on the New York Yankees, I knew I had his attention. 

Answering a question moments later on the internal Instant Message system, he commented how he’d never used it.  Parting ways after the training session he mentioned he was too busy being awesome (editor’s note: he didn’t say that, but we all know that was what he meant.) to come to the follow up session the next day.  Ok then, see ya never.  I get back to my desk and immediately get an Instant Message from the Yankee’s fan, who had never used the IM before(?), half asking me out for drinks.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Fast forward two and a half years.  As I sat in our kitchen this week, sewing a hole in his shirt, after cooking him dinner, cleaning up, and following up on his request for me to switch over his laundry, I had one of those cartoon-esque moments.  My world came to a screeching halt.  What. The. Crap? and. How. Did. I. Get. Here?!  I’m staring at everything I never knew I wanted.  I’m cooking(?)  I’m resentfully emptying the dishwasher.  I’m volunteering to replace the seam in a shirt so he doesn’t look like a homeless person in real life. I’m planning meals, grocery shopping and accommodating his need to eat pop-tarts for breakfast at 33 years old.  We’re arguing about future pets.  We’re laughing about our day.  I sit here in a moment of realization. 

He hates that I wait two weeks, till I run out of undies to do my laundry.  I hate that he panics when there are only four towels left in the drawer.  He hates that I wait upwards of two (on a good trend) months to put said freshly cleaned laundry in its proper place.  I hate that he won’t hang the things I buy on the walls for months and months on end.

            I've grown up since 23.  We’ve grown up since I was 23.  We’ve experienced loss. And if nothing grows you more as a team, it’s a recognition of your own morality.  We’ve experienced joy.  New successes, friends, family, weddings, a niece that we could not love more – who is so fun to Skype with.  And if nothing brings you a little perspective it’s a long weekend away from each other to take a minute to remember what it is that you love.  

I learned, recently, thankfulness is the root of all joy.  I’ve done my best to implement in my daily life, right down to coming home to him with a smile, because well, I’m so very grateful for him.  He makes me laugh.  He drives me crazy.  We don’t often agree, but we don’t often argue.  Opposites attract after all, and we’re living proof. 

I do wish Christmas, his birthday, and Valentine’s Day were not so close together.  It really leaves me scrambling come V-day.  I mean who wants a front-loaded gift giving sitch? Seriously, February 14^th is like my last gift giving obligation until next Christmas.  But I am thankful for him.  And don’t worry he usually ends up with like an Easter gift or a Labor day present – because I love giving presents.  Also, just because I love him.

Source: google.ca via Penny on Pinterest

A Stream of Consciousness

                Apparently everyone’s coherency is questionable, as of late.  I managed not to remember half the things I needed to do before I flew out of town this weekend.  And my sister managed to wear one brown boot and one black boot to work yesterday.  So, for me, that’s just about everyone and clearly we’re all losing it.

                Of course she has an excuse or three, getting engaged at Christmas may have something to do with it.  Or the fact that she’s moving.  Or her two year old, who seems to have a bit of a crush on my boyfriend, probably requires a bit of attention.  Me?  I don’t really have any excuses.

                Classes started this week – I was completely and entirely unprepared.  Left my laptop at home that day and I didn’t even have a notebook to write on.  I did want to try that new InkJoy pen I keep seeing commercials about anyway – but the drug store I went to did not have it available.  I’m still in the market if anyone knows where I can find one.  I am no longer looking for a notebook though – since they had plenty to choose from.

                I found out on Monday that the 9AM flight that I had thought I booked home for Monday was not an AM anything and most certainly a PM flight and now I’ll be getting home around midnight – so Boyfriend was super happy about that little development.  Yay extra day with my BFF though.

                I was forced to eat all my food with a spoon at work this week because I forgot to pack a fork every day except for one.  Thankfully I have had a box of plastic spoons in my desk for oatmeal eating purposes and also for yogurt.  I hate eating things with forks aside from the aforementioned items.  And also ice cream and cereal, obv. 

                I got to the airport today.  Purel-less.  This is a tragedy.  I only wash my hands like nine gazillion times a day when soap and water is available. Purel is a temporary substitute until I can find some soap.  But I was late leaving work, and I left it in my car and I think that will be the first thing I buy when I arrive in Atlanta. 

                Speaking of late leaving work – once again Boyfriend not exactly super pumped having to wait in the parking lot for, I believe he said twelve minutes, before I could run out the door.  When it comes to airports and arriving early, this is one place he’s more anxious than me.  Apparently even when he’s not the one doing the flying.

                Boyfriend’s birthday is coming up.  He hates his birthday.  I love to celebrate his birthday.  The same is true when my birthday rolls around.  Not that I hate it, I’m just generally indifferent.  But I’m between the golden age of 21 and haven’t gotten to the numbers that start with 3’s yet…so it’s all just the same to me.  But back to his birthday.  I get all “do you want to have a birthday party Honey?!”  

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not 12.”

“Fine.”

                

               But there is nothing the man likes more than getting presents.  Lucky for him, there is little I enjoy more, than giving presents.  And I think I nailed it this year. (I hope.)  But considering that he thinks the box that came from Amazon was for him when, in fact, it’s my deodorant – if I let him open that he whatever his real gift is will seem far superior. 

                I also need some serious inspiration on the gym front.  Apparently running one half marathon in your life does not equal skinny for forever.  Which I find to me mildly disappointing and also problematic as I cannot con myself into going to the gym lately.  If anyone has and secrets or bribes.  Let’s hear em.

                I guess that’s all I’ve got going on in my head right this second.  Well I have lots of wedding ideas for Sister and I don’t know how any of you married people pulled of a wedding without Pinterest because really I’m not creative enough to put anything together without help.  Speaking of Pinterest, I’ve become much more selective of who I follow back as the general population gets involved here.  So much irresponsible pinning going on right now.  I miss the days when it was just me and like seven of my friends, pinning a few recipes and outfits and quotes.  Good times.  I also miss the days when Facebook didn’t throw all of my 2007 life in my face and be all ‘here remember college?’  Um.  Where did that come from?  And who are these people I apparently used to have inside jokes with since they’re writing on my wall?  I also miss the days when it was a “wall” and not a “timeline.”  And I don’t have a picture for that top part so my page looks stupid.

                Well this is what happens when you don’t want to pay $9.95 to read Facebook and play on Pinterest for two hours in an airplane and don’t feel like doing what you are supposed to be doing (homework.)  Anyone want to bet how much trouble I’ll have writing a comparable 900 words for that assignment as I have written here in a half an hour?  Sorry for anyone who is still reading.  I’m done now.

PS. Why are planes so freezing??

               

                

The *New* Office

                A lot has happened since I stopped writing.  Last I left off I’d just gotten a new J-O-B. This is where I’d like to discuss the difference between corporate America and a small company.

                I am, in my opinion, a small company kind of girl. I grew up in a small town, I went to a small high school, and I chose a small college because big schools scared me.  And then I jumped into big ol’ corporate America.  Hung out there for four-ish years and then I needed to get the crap out. 

                Things I learned about small offices:

1.       You can’t use the Keurig and the microwave at the same time.

a.       The key that unlocks the front door also unlocks the utility closet where the circuit breaker is.

2.       Getting hungry at 3pm is worse when there is no vending machine on site.

3.       Can we get two “WOOTs” for a small parking lot and short walks in the cold?

4.       Hooray for my own office with a view of the pond and the geese and the deer.

a.       Boo for the people in the other office who bring their dogs to work and let them out in front of my window.

5.       Yay for Christmas parties in Boston with delicious dinners.

a.       Yay for not having to fly out the next morning wholeentireday, giving ourselves time to sightsee recover

6.       My Boss complimented my work.  I couldn’t even remember what that sounded like.

7.       The thermostat is conveniently located close to my office door.

8.       My office came supplied with speakers – oh sure I’ll listen to SiriusXM all day long.  If you insist.

9.       This new job put a bright spot on an otherwise less than awesome year for us.

10.   Apparently it’s up to me or my boss (she’s shorter than me) to lift the five gallon jug of water into the cooler.

11.   The bathroom sitch – much improved.  Can we say sharing three stalls with like 50 women is theworstthingever?

12.   I only have to talk to like two people every day. *heaven*

Some people (my boyfriend) write off small companies.  I say the benefits seem to outweigh the disadvantages. This is a preliminary decision but stay tuned,  I’m willing to report back any and all compliments and parties from the new company.

Now…what to do with these empty white walls?

Source: luxeandlillies.blogspot.com via Nora on Pinterest

If only I could paint.

What Happened in Vegas

                What happens in Vegas – takes nine years to make it to my blog.  But.  I have excuses.  (Like you care.)  Firstly, I intended to post pictures.  Well I haven’t tracked down the camera cord so I’m throwing in the towel for now.  Secondly, I got a new job and there is a ton to learn. Lastly, I’ve been waiting on my new computer because well, I’ve been trying to use Boyfriend’s lately and it really just threw off my groove.  And we all know how well that works out for me.

                Now – let’s see if I can recall my vacation from two months ago. 

Airline: Southwest –hooray direct flights and your boyfriend getting a kick out of watching The Hangover on the plane on the way to Las Vegas

Hotel: Planet Hollywood – we say yes, stay there if you happen to be shopping in our price point

                Day one – we flew in around 8pm Vegas time.  I couldn’t sleep on my way there since I’m the best girlfriend in the whole entire world  and let my boyfriend have an aisle seat and I flew in the middle, giving up my window nap spot.  We went to dinner and then to the piano bar in New York New York.  If you have not gone there yet.  You must.  It was life changing. Seriously, incredibly entertaining. Aaaand that’s when my body was all “It’s actually 2:30am, my time, I don’t care what your stupid Blackberry says about 11:30pm get me to bed rightthissecond.”  We were like half a mile from the hotel and I’m pretty sure I whined and asked to be carried all the way back.  So much to see and all I care about is sleeping.  Typical.

                Day two – great thing about going west on east coast time is you get to make the most of your first day there.  I woke up at 8am ready to goooo.  I got to experience my first Vegas breakfast buffet.  Worth it’s weight in gold I say.  Then off to tour as many casinos as we could in one day.   We enjoyed a happy hour at a country bar and then headed back to the room to compose ourselves.  From the 36^th floor of Planet Hollywood, mid-strip, Mandalay Bay looks like it’s a reasonable walking distance to go see the shark exhibit.  IT. IS. NOT.  Know that.  Sharks were cool – learned I can’t take a single, steady picture after four tall-boy Bud Lights but whatev.  Learned I will whine my way to hopping on the rollercoaster at New York New York after said Bud Lights.  Also learned that Boyfriend is a HUGE fan of souvenir pics.  I loved that day.

                Day three – the first time everyone tried to scare me to death.  We spent the day by the pool since it was a glorious 80-something degrees and met Boyfriend’s brother (who lives out there) for dinner and a trip to Fremont St.  Where all the local crazies hang out.  Also where they set up a life ruining zip line that Joe’s wife insisted we go on.  The thing about this is.  You have to wait in life for like an hour watching all these other people go and risk death, thinking about how safe a zip line built on scaffolding could really be.  And in my case, you have your boyfriend’s brother to capitalize on your fear and offer additional suggestions as to how you may meet your demise.  I was sure to ask the kid strapping me in if I was going to die.  He said something about not wanting to be charged with second-degree murder.  Which, coincidentally, I found concerning that he was so specific about which degree of murder my question was going to result in. I didn’t die.  I didn’t look down either.  I don’t want to ever do that again.

                Day four – more pool, dinner at the Wynn, swing by Treasure Island to watch them sink the pirate ship the singing hookers choreographed by the High School Musical guy dance around, tickets for Cirque de Solei, and crossyourfingers he’ll forgot about the Stratosphere rides.

                Wynn was to-die-for, Treasure Island was amusing, Cirque? I…didn’t get it.  It was super neat.  I can’t believe those people can do those things.  But.  I didn’t get it. And that’s when someone was all – well we’re so close to the Stratosphere we have to go.

…

Side.eye.

                This is the part when you note the lack of alcohol in my evening to deter my rational fear of hanging out thousands of feet over Las Vegas and hoping for the best.  I rode one ride.  My heart almost stopped.  And I almost fell down the stairs getting off of it because my legs were so shaky.  He ended up gifting some teenagers suckers on our way out with free tickets to the other rides.  He took some pictures of the view while we were up there, I stared at the ice in my glass.

The kid told me to smile.  I said no.

                In summary, yes – stay in the middle of the strip, or the Venetian or Caesars Palace, but for regular people like us, Planet Hollywood is awesome.  You do not have to drink your face off or walk into a single “club” to have a great time.  Yes – go see the lions and the tigers and the dolphins.  Yes let your boyfriend buy all the souvenir pictures he can.  But you definitely should go into the mall there – grab a fruity rum drink as tall as you are and wander around looking at things you could never afford. Yes, put ten dollars in a slot machine – win more than I did.  And YES – go to Vegas for four days and take me with you.  I’ll show you the good stuff…from ground level.

"Rain Drops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens"

    I am a HAPPY, HAPPY girl these days.  And while whiskers on kittens are no concern of mine, and coincidentally would probably do the opposite of making me happy if they were all in my face, I have other things that are brightening my days.
 
     Firstly, I didn't die in Las Vegas.  Woot.  And Boyfriend is all "I told you you wouldn't die."  And I'm all - "you didn't know that for sure."

     We had So. Much. Fun. on our first vacation together.  The weather was perfect. We enjoyed our hotel.  We saw everything.  He bought ALL the souvenir pictures.  He managed to con me into an upside down roller coaster at New York, New York, a zip line over Fremont Street, and ONE of the super scary and way too high rides.  He bought tickets for all three since you have to do that from the bottom.  So a couple of kids got free tickets when I told him there was no way in hell I was getting on another one.  And I don't think I said it that nicely.  Anyway - I think I will recap the whole Vegas trip in it's own post.  Because there is so much.  And I do have pictures - if I can figure out how to put them on a computer.

   Takeaways:  1.) Didn't die.
                       2.) You should go there and see the dueling piano show.

     Secondly, I finally got a new J-O-B.  And I am this kind of excited.  I have been praying for a new job for months and months and months and I couldn't be more grateful to get a new opportunity.  Remember when you were going to college and you were supposed to choose what to do for the rest of your life after like one year?  Well I think I was close - accounting is fine and all.  But I think I just need something a little different.  So Financial Analysis is what I'm pursuing.  Change is good. And scary.  But mostly good.

   Takeaways: 1.) Don't worry I have not tried to physically do a cartwheel - I just keep doing them in my head.
                       2.) I keep seeing Katy Perry-ish videos in my head, (less the annoying, over-played lyrics) but bubble gum and cotton candy and lollipops.

Kind of like this.

Source: squidoo.com via Fortuna on Pinterest

Revisiting Day 8 - Because Apparently Someone Forgot

                Soooo…remember when I specifically said, first and foremost, before getting eaten by sharks or using a supermarket pen, I AM AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.  You do?  Thank you for paying attention.  Apparently Boyfriend needs to print out my blog posts. Or. Start listening when I say things. And I say a lot of things. I’ll accept either.

                Just in case he chooses the former I may even buy him a nice highlighter set for his stocking this Christmas so he can note the extra important things.

                We leave for Las Vegas on Thursday night. (yaaaay.)  I am pumped for 85 degrees, pools, winning a million dollars, the Bellagio Fountains, and meeting Bradley Cooper and the rest of the Hangover gang.  What? They’re not always there? 

                Now, like I said,Boyfriend has been there at least a million times visiting his fam.  So he is playing tour guide.  And he sends me this link yesterday.  http://www.stratospherehotel.com/Tower/Rides  He then says “we’re doing all three rides.”

                I open it and read the tagline: “Vegas without a net.”

Me: …  

Me: No.

Him: Yes we are. I have the whole thing planned out.

Me: Not going to happen…pal.

Him: It’s a must-do for tourists.

Me(Reading more of the site that says “Are you a thrill seeker or a bystander"):  I’m a bystander.

Him: You’ll be a different person after.

Me: The kind of person who needs Xanax to cross the street for the rest of her life?

Him: There’s a bar up there. You’ll be fine.

Me: I hope I throw up in your face.

Me: If you’re sleeping in the parking garage no one is going to feel bad for you – it will be your own fault.

Him: We’re doing all three.

                After further review. I can. not. for the life of me, figure out how someone, anyone, let alone the man who knows me best, would open that particular link and thinks “Oh Rach is going to LOVE this!” 

               I seriously have sweaty palms and my heart is pounding just telling you about the thought of being dragged up that high.  Also, if. IF. I was to agree to this, against my better judgement, and only after writing an updated will, I got on ONE of those rides.  What are the odds I get on TWO more?  One co-worker reviewed his recent experience on them as “the most scared he’s been in his whole entire life.” Then proceeded to tell me “You have to do it.” 

….

SHOOTMEINTHEFACE.

Have you guys been on it?  Will I live to talk about it?  Can you think of a million other things I should do with my time and money that do not involve me leaving the ground.  You know.  High aversion to risk and all.  Please let me know.  Like before I leave Thursday – I will need alternative suggestions, ideally nowhere near this tower of terror.

PS. If I do manage to  make it home alive.  My bestie gave me a camera.  And I’ve never owned one before.  And Boyfriend hates pictures.  So I told him we’re only taking pictures of our faces. And kissing.  And he is not happy about it.  But I will have pictures.  For you.  That is, if I live.  Send me your ideaaaaas. Or your Xanax. Thanks.

Oh hey look - the opposite of FUN.

Source: stratospherehotel.com via Nyssa on Pinterest