Paul's Birthday Party Part 3!

Paul's birthday party at the Radagast Beirgarten was a success. Everyone was cheerful despite it being round 3 in his birthday celebrations. We got there around 4 when they opened allowing us to get a big table for our friends and family who came to celebrate. Some German sausage, Liter sized beer glasses and good friends: all you need on a birthday.

We played moose and had a few card games going. Jokes and laughs were had by all and in the end it was a success.

Happy 28th Birthday, Grandpa Paul! You are loved!

Finding Time

It's funny how when you don't have the time, there are 100 things you are motivated to do... and those days you have the time on your hands, all you want to do is rest!

That is the very predicament I find myself in. This past weekend was mine for the taking... but I was unproductive, did little, and had maybe too much unhealthy fun. At least I spent it with Paul... that always makes me feel like the time was not wasted.

I've noticed that while at work, I say: Maybe I'll go to the gym, go to the park, take a walk, bake a cake, clean the house, iron, etc... Yet once I actually get home... all I want to do is have dinner... curl up in a ball and relax.

I always think... I wish Paul got home earlier from work... so I can see him and spend time with him... Now he is. While I'm in the kitchen cooking, he is in the living room playing XBox or watching TV. I can't blame him... our kitchen is small and he gets in my way. Once dinner is done we eat together but he is up and cleaning up before I even have a chance to swallow. Once its over he's at the computer checking scores or up washing dishes while I watch some TV or lay on the couch and take a nap... I mean fall asleep.

I said - this summer I want to go to the beach, hit up the park, try yoga, go kayaking, plant a garden, etc etc etc....

This summer I've done none of those things... at least I am on my 3rd camping trip and will go to Kayak school next week.

Talk about procrastination.

I know my days aren't filled too much - but I'll be honest... I'm tired. I'm very very tired. And that makes me depressed... I'm 27. I'm healthy. I'm losing it.

I guess they are right... some cardio... a little exercise... maybe it will get me going. It's just finding the motivation to actually do it. Ugh... we shall see. For now I will look forward to the rest of the week....

Tonight - transformers
Tomorrow - some secret stuff to take care of
Thursday - Mommy Yolly date night
Friday - Paul's birthday party #3
Saturday - Mom's annual BBQ
Sunday - play with kids

Then it's more work next week... leading into a 3 day weekend for kayak school and camping with Pauly

Severe Back Pain

sucks!

I would say I'm only at a 6-7 but ... like all the time!

Birthdays, Independence, Birthdays

This weekend proved that I am no way the weekend warrior I once was. There were parties, celebrations, drinks, dinners, and more parties, celebrations, drinks, dinners.

Thursday, after a busy day at work I went over to Bellerose to have a BBQ for Paul at his Mom's house. It was filled with rain, good food, good company, some wine, and an overall enjoyable night.

After I talked Paul into a deep coma-like sleep as I ranted about people I won't waste anymore energy over.

Friday we got up and had some fruit and homemade blueberry crumbcake. Got a slow start to the day... dressed... and went to Crabtree's for lunch which was fun, calm, relaxing, and delicious. Paul had a very fluffy Quiche and I had a Crabcake over salad. It was paired with my mimosa which I never crave but was craving for some reason (they didn't have pear juice for a bellini).

That night I took Paul downtown for dinner at Bathazar's ... some sardines, steak tartar, boullabaise, and bronzini later... oh yeah and great beer, great desert and great sambucca... we met up with Shane, Colby, Richi, Puv, Dave, Abe, Nelson, Brian and Grace for some drinks that lasted till the next morning. Good times had by all!

Saturday was a late start... not getting up till 12:30, we cleaned some in the apartment... I spend some hours ironing and then got dressed... off to Andrew's apartment in NYC for the BBQ and fireworks. His apartment was a duplex with an outdoor patio and a rooftop deck. The food was good, the company was good, the music was good, the view was to die for... it was a good time.

Again after a late night, I wasn't up till noon... and had some homemade banana bread with Paul for breakfast. We then parted and I went down to get a much long over due manicure and pedicure... some fuchsia nail polish later and I was on my way home to put on my party dress and head out to Lauren's future father-in-law's 50th Birthday Shin Dig at El Patron in Queens.

Some margarita's and Negra Modelo's later... I was in a comatose sleep ready for work the next day... booooooo

All and all a successfully unproductive weekend

Happy Birthday, Paul!

That's right - the love of my life turned 28 today. It's amazing how time flies! Only 11 years ago we met in my Grandma's backyard in Bellerose... who would have thought 11 years later he'd become my future husband?

Happy Birthday, Paul! You've achieved so much in your 28 years and will continue to achieve more. You are a rare breed of man, both smart and charming, loving and strong, funny and serious. You are my man, and I'm very very happy about it!

I love you and hope you have the most amazing BirthDAY, BirthWEEK, and BirthMONTH ever!

Camping and Kayaking

I'm pretty excited. In 3 weeks, Paul and I will be leaving to go on another camping trip. This time it will be a 3 night solo trip - just the 2 of us.

We will be heading back to Maunch Chunk Lake State Park in Carbon County, PA. It is where we were just this past weekend and though I enjoyed the campsite at Kitattinny, this location has a hard core Kayak school.

We were unable to get the lake front campsites we were hoping for, but we have a site a bit deeper set into the woods. I'm sure it will be fine. After all we will be spending most of our time in the river.

We are planning to leave directly from work on Friday the 17th and begin heading down to the town of Jim Thorpe where we will check into our campground and set up camp. We will likely cook dinner and make a campfire and just enjoy a nice relaxing night. This is a dry campground, but a few beers or cup of wine in a red solo cup won't hurt anyone.

The next morning we will have to wake up bright and early, get on our swim suits, eat a pretty hearty breakfast and head out to the Kayak School. Our 1st day begins at 9 and lasts for 8+ hours. We will be taken to a lake where we will be taught several skills:

• wet exit
• proper posture and balance
• how to turn in a kayak
• how to paddle strait
• correction or stearing strokes, and
  
• the eskimo roll

I'm sure after doing that for 8 hours in the lake having only a natural granola style lunch, we will be both exhausted and hungry. We will head back to camp where we will enjoy a more sophisticated camp fire dinner (grilled fish and veggies... maybe some steaks). And then just relax and enjoy some alone time by the fire and in our tent.

Day 2 has us up bight and early again for another 8 hour day but this time in the river. After a quick refresher class of the day before we will be headed up to the Lehigh River for some white water. Here in the rapids (8 miles ... 20 rapids) we will learn:

• Peel outs
• eddy turns
• ferrying
• surfing
• carving turns, and
• ruddering

Again only on a granola lunch. We will make it back to camp, make ourselves a nice dinner and again relax our weary bones.

Monday morning we will wake up, enjoy breakfast, maybe a walk... pack our gear and then do whatever it is we want ... just making sure we are home in time for work the next morning ... at least in time for ME to be at work the next morning.

I'm really excited for this trip. I wanted to do the inflatable kayaking trip which is less dangerous and thus requires a lot less training, but has you out in the rapids far quicker. Paul didn't want to take any short cuts. This is what he really wanted to do this summer... learn how to do REAL kayaking and now we will have that opportunity. Hopefully this is a sport we will come to love and invest in for the future... snowboarding in the winter and kayaking in the summer? That seems like a pretty good set up... especially since I HEAR that kayaking can be a cheap sport... if you get the right equipment it should last you a life time and you'll only pay for it once... the river is free... unlike the lift tickets we purchase weekend after weekend throughout the winter.

Paul's Last Day

Today is a big day for my Pauly... It's his last day working at ZS Associates. I must admit my impression of ZS is filled with both happiness and ugliness.

This company wanted Paul to work for them - even though he had no marketing experience. even though he had no consulting experience. even though he was an engineer. even though he was coming from Michigan. even though he would be residing in NY and putting in for a transfer.

This company allowed us to have our 2 years together... in one state... in one city... in one home.

This company caused Paul to sit on a train for 2 hours or more in each direction because he was never transfered to NY. This company gave small bonuses and raises for the work performed. This company made Paul work late nights on Fridays when he did no work all week. It was inconsistent at best.

But this company was placed on his resume... broadened his skill set... made him a more valuable asset to any company he will go to in the future... and provided him with recommendations that ultimately helped him achieve his goal of attending MIT Sloan's MBA program this fall.

I'm proud of Paul... for learning something new. Enduring a long commute to be together. Working hard. Being happy.

Congratulations - on your last day of another chapter in your very promising and successful life!