The Weekend Thread

I had a marvelous weekend past, and mine started on the Thursday with my birthday. Gwyn took me to one of the top restaurants in the world, and as it's right around the corner from our house, we walked. This was a tad tricky in stilettos over the ice, but they were my only matching shoes that still fit. I gripped Gwyn the entire journey there and back.

We did not order, though. Gwyn had pre-ordered their surprise menu, and told the chef/owner that I was a vegetarian, and no other limits. Oh. My God. Seven courses, with a different wine paired with each. (Only the palette refreshing course lacked a wine.) Let's see - there was an adorable amuse bouche of finely minced tomato and cucumber (Gwyn's had a dab of seared tuna) and then we were away - cannot remember all the courses clearly (did I mention there was quite a bit of wine?) but a few highlights - filo-pastry wrapped cotswald cheese over baby greens with pickled watermelon (to die for!!!) shredded and fried potato with endive and black truffle, delicately flavored tofu over a root vegetable puree, and a sort of chocolate bombe with fresh raspberries inside (and I am not much of a chocolate person!) with a glass of port with dessert. We started with their signature cocktail which was champagne, brandy, and triple sec with an orange twist? Something like that. I did not think I would like it but it was divine and so very festive. Then I ended with a Stearns & Foster which I believe was kahlua and creme with a splash of soda. Made no bloody difference at that point - I was up for drinking anything! And yes, that makes 8 drinks and I still walked home... in heels!

Friday was a wash, needless to say. I had some sort of blowout argument with my co-worker and decided I did not need the aggravation and quit. It was not an ideal situation for me as my father owns the company and that led to all sorts of drama that was awkward for the pair of us. I suspect I am not quite ready to return to work. I think I'll post about this elsewhere as I have questions about when my disability expires.

Saturday we had a lazy morning and then went to the Botanical Gardens thinking we would do their winter hike, but since we could see it was all adults in the group, we just went our own way and ended up, not surprisingly, in a snowball fight. Then we had to rush to Aidan's basketball game where he made 3 baskets. (I was beginning to think I was jinxing him somehow as every time I watched, he would not make any baskets. Aidan has declared 'the curse is broken!') Returned home and got the boys dressed for the turkish restaurant. We had promised them numerous times that we would go, but we had a gift voucher that was expiring that evening, so we made a point of going. It was fantastic until the waitress got caught up with something at another table and it took half an hour to get our bill. Oh well, Gwyn just handed the boys i-Phones to keep them quiet. It really was lovely and only a minor inconvenience. Of course, we are there in Wisconsin and there was a wide screen television over the bar, yet we didn't give it a second look. The establishment is very chic, so it was wild to see the man sitting there unable to contain himself and shouting things out periodically. We've been told it was a corker of a game, and that the Packers won. Yea, I suppose.

Sunday we went sledding in the morning with Aidan's friend, but it was so bitterly cold that we only stayed a half hour or so. A good trial run for our longer session Monday evening. Then we dropped both kids off at Aidan's friend's house, but only long enough to rush home, change into more mobile clothes, and grab the kids to head to Costco for the big shop. Spent some $400 there, almost $100 on kids drink pouches because there was a voucher for them, and no limit on the purchase. We now have 320 organic, shelf-stable juice pouches to send in lunches, so should be set until at least summer. I love Costco. I cannot help it.

Then we dashed home, unloaded, Liot had a meltdown so we had to threaten to not take him to our evening activity. I am so glad he calmed himself down! We went to the sculpture gardens where they had all the equipment to make and decorate our own lanterns. I am not the least bit crafty, but I had such fun. The staff helped us put lit candles into the lanterns and we walked around in the snow and the moonlight, admiring the sculptures and the scene. Then it was inside for hot cider and cookies. We now have a membership and for just $60, we can go whenever we like, even when they are not open to the public. We just have to send them an email so that they can expect us. The house that is on the grounds is spectacular also, with a mini gallery of modern art (quite a few Lichtensteins, and others I did not recognise). I've been feeling guilty as we do not have the boys signed up for any sport other than basketball for Aidan and karate through their school, but I have to say that it is so nice to be able to go to these events and just enjoy rather than rush to the ice rink, the soccer fields, the swimming pools, and so forth.