It was a good day.

Two years ago my husband got me the best birthday present...I love hydrangeas. They were one of my wedding flowers, and are one of my favorite flowers. So, he bought me a giant potted hydrangea. I LOVED this plant. It represented how well my husband knows me, and how good he is at choosing gifts for me :-), and it's a hydranga!

When we moved to MA, I had to part with it, and gave it to a friend. After we returned, I was at her house and saw it sitting on the balcony and was sad. I missed it, it was special. I know the friend would have said "yes take it for sure!!" in a second had I just asked, but you know....

So, this year, on my birthday, guess what D. Did? He got it back! He knew that a new one wouldn't do, that I wanted THAT one back. It was quite a while ago that I mentioned to him how much I wished I could have it back, and he remembered! So, I have my beloved hydrangea back. AND we went for a wonderful dinner at my favorite place - Blighty's Bistro. I stubbornly insisted that we go for dinner despite the fact that I was totally sick! I think we need to go back when I can taste the food and not feel sick after eating! lol.

It was a good birthday. I have a wonderful husband.

Moving...again!

Well, we found the place we'd been looking for. It is a bit smaller than what we were looking for, but it is THREE blocks from a beautiful sandy beach, a block from one little village area, a few blocks from a second, and about a 10-15 min walk from Oak bay....it is, the perfect location. We love it. It is a beautiful suite too. Semi-detached from the house, FULL size stove and fridge, eat in kitchen, and deck, and it's on two floors - top floor is the living area, kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms (aka office and bedroom) are downstairs. We love it. We're sad to leave our wonderful landlords, but are so excited to move into this new place! We move July 30 (anyone want pizza and wine for helping?).

Very excited. I love the beachy oak bay area. It is home, and I'm so happy to be back in the light of day (not in a basement suite).

Super :-)

Victorious

I. Just. Beat. D. At. Settlers. Of. Catan.

This is a momentous occasion. I think I've only played it a couple times before, and my husband is very very good at it. This will, I'm sure, NEVER happen again. So I'm revelling in it.

It was an EXTREMELY lengthly game, since we played with only the two of us. His parents bought him the "cities and nights of catan" and I got him the expansion for that version. I included in my present a promise to actually play it with him (I often opt out of it). So we tried it out tonight as a test run (it's meant for 3+ players).

It actually is a pretty fun game, though I may only be saying that because I won. Lol!

Home sweet home

Well after that smattering of video, I should say that I'm glad to be home, but I had an excellent time in San Diego.

1. I learned A LOT. I felt more than any year before that I really came home with things I could use and apply in my work.
2. Tons o Mexican! And tons o margaritas! We had some seriously good mexican food, and lots of margaritas. Yay for happy hour!!
3. I went to Trader Joes! M. was willing to accomodate my need to take the bus for 30 minutes to get to a trader joes. I thought I might cry when I walked in the doors. Lol!
4. Got hassled by customs going both directions! Lame.
5. NO flight delays what so ever!! No getting stuck in Chicago for hours on end. Excellent.
6. Spilled red wine or food on every white clothing item I wore.
7. Beautiful pool deck with fire pits, pool, and hot tubs that I loved!
8. I drank a ridiculous quantity of airborne in an effort to keep myself from getting sick....didn't pan out - I'm totally sick now!! But at least it wasn't too bad while I was there.

It was a very good trip, and was the most fun, most relaxing, and most educative ABA conference so far! Pics are here.

Now back to work and catching up on school that started while I was gone.

Finger food

Hysterical!!! A friend emailed me this: