And we're off...

The dishes are washed and the dishwasher is empty. The last of the t-rex cakes is in the garbage, as well as the last of the pie, and desserts left from the birthday festivities. The trash is out and the bag packed with beer and wine bottles hits the recycling. The suitcase is ready, the pack is, well, packed, the cameras (yes, plural) are charged, the printer full of photo paper... believe it or not, I think I'm ready to go.

It's hard to believe we're leaving on Sunday. We've been talking about this for at least a year, once a week since February, and at least three times a day (thanks Stephanie!) for the past two months. But tonight it's real. Everything is set and ready to go. The ACs will go off, the refrigerator is pretty bare, and my desk at work is cleared off.

On Sunday, Stephanie and I will leave for a ten-day trek to Israel. This entire time I haven't let myself get excited, get my expectations so high they can't be reached. But now, as I sit here on the red couch, looking at my filled suitcase and day pack, I can't help but wonder what it's going to be like. Will I get the spiritual connection I want? Will the Land of Milk and Honey be fruitful? Will every moment I'm there connect me to my people, my history, my beliefs, my family... me? I can't even tell you how exciting (and yes, a little scary) it is...

Tomorrow: Appleton
Saturday: Chicago
Sunday-Monday: Eretz Yisrael

Oy!

54 hours, 8 bottles, 1 weekend like the good ol' days

It was a birthday I would have never expected. I actually thought it was going to be a quiet one. While I did indeed turn a quarter-century years old, I really didn't have much planned. Dinner out with Molly for that smoked Gouda fondue I just can't get enough of... and maybe a small get-together with some friends.

Oh, how plans can change.

Nathan came to town -- totally out-of-the-blue -- to celebrate my birthday and to hang out. It was honestly just what I needed. I picked him up at the airport, Mohawk and all, and we headed back to start the weekend off right: dinner and wine. Allen showed up shortly thereafter, and we had more wine, dinner, more wine, and some good laughs. We watched "Batman Begins" in preparation for the IMAX showing of "Dark Knight" we were to see the night night... and it was as if nothing had changed.

Friday I had to go work - not by choice, I'll have you know. When I was finally allowed back to my apartment, I was welcomed with the best birthday cake ever -- a t-rex cake! We actually had a t-rex! We went for lunch, I let the boys nap, and we were off to dinner and the movie.

Dinner was awesome -- we scored some free dessert for my birthday and Nathan fanagled us two free glasses of wine. Then... we saw the movie. I have nothing to say about "Dark Knight" other than go see it -- right now -- and on the IMAX. We can discuss this later.

Saturday Nathan and I spent the day just hanging out. It was pretty much perfect. I got a new phone (love it!), we took a nap, and then I got the place ready for my party. Everyone came, everyone ate, and damn did Nathan and I drink.

Sunday we did the usual Cure-a-hangover-with-Al's and scored free breakfast (courtesy of Harry without him knowing!). Sunday afternoon and evening were to be as expected. I did take Nathan to the airport and all.

It was an amazing weekend. Allen gets props for the best birthday present ever: Nathan came to town. (Sorry Nathan, as much as I love you and the amazing book, you coming for the weekend.... I have nothing more to say.)

After 54 hours and 8 bottles of wine, it's safe to say I had a pretty amazing birthday.

Thank you boys -- I love you.


Now... it's off to Israel....

Toilet Update

I have a new toilet.

It is amazing.

And it flushes.

Good night.

Maybe tomorrow?

I was so excited to get home from dinner (though dinner WAS amazing!)... I was going to finally have a working toilet again... or so I thought.

I walked in the door, having to pee ever-so-badly, excited to christen the new bowl, walked into the bathroom and saw it... the same damn toilet I left this morning. The same damn toilet that hasn't worked since Friday at 5:00 in the PM. The same damn toilet I have had overflow four times now.

What happened to Monday New Toilet Day?

Tomorrow I will get to the bottom of this... and my new damn toilet.

UGH!

Cantaloupe vs Honeydew

I've never liked cantaloupe. However, I love honeydew. Last week after being in Daytona for the weekend, I bought a honeydew -- and ate the entire thing in a week. It was amazing.

So today on the way home from Southdale, I stopped at Byerley's to get another. I moseyed around the store and found them amidst the other melons. Some honeydew had stickers that read "Orange Flesh". I had never seen an orange-fleshed honeydew before, and because I don't like cantaloupe, I opted for the honeydew in the other section, sans sticker.

Fast-forward to my apartment. I cut open the honeydew -- orange. Damn. So maybe it'll still taste like the cool green honeydew I was so hoping for. Nope. Tastes like a cantaloupe.

It's not like I don't know the difference -- I know what a cantaloupe looks like and what a honeydew looks like -- they have completely different rinds. So now I am stuck with a cantaloupe-honeydew... I'll suffer through it... but I will not like it.

Fourth time's a charm?

The first time, I wasn't surprised. The second time, I wasn't even home. The third time my toilet overflowed, when I called I asked what they were going to do about this -- three times my toilet had overflowed in a span of two-and-a-half months. Unacceptable. They said they fixed it.

This whole week my toilet has flushed, but it did appear to take a while. Then, last night, it kept running. I called the office and told they yet again my toilet was acting up.

Monday, I will get a new toilet. Monday. This happened last night -- FRIDAY. This means all weekend I am pretty much toilet-less. And for anyone who knows me, I pee often -- probably once an hour. Awesome.

Luckily I won't be home all that much this weekend -- I will be able to pee in other places. But, in the middle of the night, when I wake up to pee... Oy.

A Botched Surprise...

I don't like surprises. I never have. My birthday is in a week and a half. Last year, Molly told me all I needed to know for the morning of my birthday was I needed to wear flip flops. I botched that surprise figuring out she was taking me to get a pedicure. Now, just shy of one year later, I have yet again botched a birthday surprise.

You see, about a week or so ago, Nathan and I started talking about him coming to visit for my birthday. Much to my dismay, it wasn't going to happen. This and that and the other thing just made it impossible. Or so I thought.

This morning at work I sent out the evite for my birthday celebration. A nice little get-together chez moi with drinks and food and just chillin'. 4:00 Sunday. All day people were viewing the evite, responding and the like. I thought nothing of the fact that both Nathan AND Allen had viewed the evite but not responded. The day went on -- a busy one, in fact -- and after work I headed over to the EPC to meet up with Allen, with whom I had dinner plans.

We met in Barnes and Noble and started walking around the mall. We went into the kitchen store (of course!) and Allen got a phone call. I hear Allen say, "Oh, just walking around the mall with my friend Lizzo." On the other end of the phone, I heard the response, "Oh, you're friend Lizzzzoooo?" I knew that voice. That's Nathan! I knew it was him. I know that voice.

All of a sudden Allen puts Nathan on speaker phone and they say they have something to tell me. First I was nervous -- no, I would not let Allen move away like the other boys. Then I was scared -- was everything ok? Then -- then it hit me! I got a huge smile on my face, both fingers crossed, jumping up and down with my eyes closed (yes, Allen will attest to all this) -- NATHAN'S COMING FOR MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!

They had it all planned out -- a great way to surprise me -- the whole story planned. And I botched it. I planned my birthday party 30 minutes after Nathan has to be back at the airport Sunday. So I have to move my party -- big deal. NATHAN'S COMING!!

So I botched the surprise -- and that we're going to see Batman at the IMAX -- oops! But it doesn't matter how I found out. It was the best surprise ever and I still can't a) believe Nathan's coming and b) wipe the smile off my face.

So.... I am sorry I botched the plan.

But....

THANK YOU FOR THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!!!



--

PS. You're both bastards for keeping this from me for TWO FULL WEEKS! :o)

Finally...

It finally happened. Tonight I went to Happy Hour with the fundraiser committee -- it could have been hit-or-miss, but the wine was fantastic and the drinks were complimentary of the Rabbi and President. However, this is all besides the point.

Tonight, the second of two reasons I joined the fundraiser committee paid off. The first: I could help. Two Sundays ago we held a quite successful fundraiser, for which I used my talents and provided a complete scheme that totally fit. Tonight though, the second happened. And surprisingly, it came from Linda.

We were sitting around the table, drink in hand, and she finally did it. She told me about these two "nice young Jewish men" that were single and asked if I was looking. Now, while I new of the brothers to whom she was referring (the Marvey brothers, believe it or not!!), and knew better than to tap that, it was sweet of her to FINALLY bring out what these ladies had been hiding far too long.

So the cat is out of the bag... or cats. Yes, tonight they tried to set me up with the Marvey boys -- I SAID NO THANK YOU, for the record -- but at least Linda had the heart (or balls) to try me.

Thank you, Linda, for standing up to my second goal on the fundraiser committee. Unfortunately, I'll say No, Thank You, and wait for round two...