Ok, it’s been awhile.
Just haven’t been in the mood to write. But now I have a little bit of time. Here’s what we’ve been up to.
After getting back from my Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Los Angeles trip Dave and I had a pretty quite two weeks at home. Always nice because it doesn’t happen often. We then headed off to London in November, me the 22nd and Dave the weekend before. We had Daniel come along too. It was a real whirlwind of activity. Daniel and I get off the plan and decide to take the tube into town instead of my usual (and much favored) Heathrow Express to Padington and taxi to SOHO.
I don’t think I want to do that again.
The tube took over an hour to get to Lechster Square. After being on a plane for 8 hours I was ready to be there. Once we got there we get out to the street and I’m completely lost. Mind you, I know London so this surprised me. We were staying on Old Compton street and I started us in the direction I thought it was but got confused when we ended up in China town. I didn’t remember there being a China town there. So I stopped and called Dave. He walked me the long way around to the flat.
I was headed in the right direction but had only seen those streets in the dark and with most of the Chinese stores closed with no lights on. That’s where I got confused.
We go up to the flat, take a shower and then head out for lunch. I’ve been in London for two hours at this point. We meet up with our friend Derek who lives in DC and is extremely British and was in town visiting the same time we where and Diago, another friend that lives in London. After our quick lunch we realize we need to make it to the train station to go visit mum.
We’re running late.
We still decided to get some beautiful flowers on the way. It takes forever for the girl to arrange them, but it’s well worth it. We finally get a cab and make it to the train station on time to sit down and leave. Luckily we had assigned seat as the train was packed.
We make it to Bedford and Dave’s mum is waiting for us. Off to the house we go. Auntie and Uncle show up and we have a great meal. Decide to go back to the flat at around 10ish. We get there and for some reason I now have energy. We go out to G-A-Y late until about one. I don’t know how I did it but I did.
I did get some sleep that night.
The next day is Friday and we have a party at Ian and Darryl’s that evening. They have this great place near ST Pancreas that they purchased three years ago. What planning! They now have the Euro Star a 15 minute walk away from the house. Did I mention it’s a penthouse with great views of the city? We’ll it is.
We stayed there until about 11, around 20 people showed up by the time we left. We then cabed to the last ever night of Fiction nearby. What a fun night. We stayed until 3ish. We more or less just stood around and talked, not really dancing at all. The funny thing is that as the night went on the more I talked to people. By the end of the night I decided to chat up this guy that had looked at me a couple of times. I go over and introduce myself, bring him and his friend over to say hi to Dave and chat for a bit only to find out, get this, that he was
Straight!!!!!
Just my luck, picking up the one bloke in the place that wasn’t really interested. Oh well.
Saturday wasn’t really that eventfull. We did end up staying up in our flat until 3ish with some friends. But that was about it.
Sunday was another clubbing night. We got invited to a 60th birthday party by Diago and Mark. I don’t remember the name of the venue but it was cool. We had the whole place to ourselves and it was right down the road from DTPM so after the party we all walked there. Daniel and I didn’t stay very long as Daniel picked up. We went back to the flat and Dave stayed for a bit and danced with our UK Daniel friend. It was a good thing to do because Dave could relax at that point and not worry about US Daniel so he could dance.
About 3am Dave shows up back at the flat, we’re all still awake and end up staying awake talking. Dave and I end up getting breakfast at Balains’s café that morning because neither of us was sleepy. Daniel had already taken his boy back into the bedroom.
So that’s Monday morning. Here’s when I get a little bit confused. We had dinner with Andy either on that night or the next. When we did have dinner with Andy, Paul came by after buying 25 pounds (UK Money not weight) of grapes at Harrod’s. It wasn’t that big of a bag either. That’s some expensive grapes. We ate at Balain’s.
At some point we had dinner with Laurence at Caffe Bohim, I don’t remember if it was Saturday or Tuesday night or maybe both. It all runs together. I did work on the later bit of Monday and all of Tuesday, travel home on Wednesday.
We always leave wanting more, that’s a good thing.
We get home, poor Dave has a cold/flu and I’m just worn out. I go to the office the next day. I might as well not been here I was that out of it.
Butt….
I still had the strength to meet Kiat out for drinks and dinner, (just because I don’t think I spent enough money in London$$$$) I meet him at Halo for happy hour at 6ish, Dave had a networking thing in Tyson’s that night. We stayed there waiting for some of Kiat’s coworkers that never showed up. Finally we take a cab (it’s Kiat, remember) and high tail it to this new restaurant that opened in the Ritz on 24th and M streets, the Blue Duck Tavern.
Us- Do you have a table for two walk-ins?
Lady Hostess – (Looks us up and Down) No reservation, I’m so sorry, we can’t seat you without a reservation.
Kiat- Sweet talking- Awww, come on. You don’t look that busy.
Lady Hostess –No!
So we leave and go to another new restaurant down the road at 22nd and M. Just opened up and took over where David Gregory was.
See conversation above but replace lady with man.
So we end up going to Pesce on P street near the house, we meet Tony there and proceed to have a really good meal. As consolation prizes go we did ok. I had Scallops in the shell with spinach and garlic butter to start and for the main I had tuna encrusted in pepper with slices of Grapefruit and a passion fruit sorbet. Very scrummy.
So remember, this is the day after I got back from London. The day before I was eating at Zuni fish with Dave in Soho. I mention this and Kiat reminds me that he had been in Sydney the Sunday before. Too funny.
Ok, Friday at home with my man watching an Italian movie where I understood about half of what was being said. The movie wasn’t so good, Dave fell asleep.
Saturday we had the most productive day. Up early because we had stayed home the night before. ( I think that will become our date night from now on) We went to Home depot and finished getting things for the New bathroom that Dave is having put in his rental. We then went to Harris Teater(Tosco for you brits) and purchased $500 in groceries. We hadn’t been in a long time. We helped our friend Brett pick up some art that he had framed. Cool Stuff.
We then had a party at Rob and Mikko’s. We all know how those go.
Sunday was brunch at the house with some friends over.
Monday was work and then an event for the Williams Institute. Dinner after at Hank’s oyster bar. Bed by 11, which is one hour later than normal for me.
Work today, Dave’s brother, sister-in-law and niece are coming over for dinner. I’m cooking. I need to get home early to do that. Going to stop by trader Joe’s on the way home.
Anyway, that’s what’s been going on in my life. Never a dull moment for the wicked.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
LA bound
Well, I’m at the Palm Springs airport waiting for my flight. I changed to an earlier flight for a few reasons. My checkout was at twelve anyway so it just kind of made sense. That and I had a stalker that wouldn’t leave me alone in the place I was staying.
Onward and upwards to new locations.
I’m really ready to be home to tell the truth. As it looks now I will be back in DC on the 7th but…..
The LA office might not be ready then, they’re having a few issues with the phones and network. I will be able to set up the computers but we need to make sure the internet works and the VPN is up and running. I might be in LA a few more days then I wanted. UGH!
I use UGH a lot lately.
I want my bed and my boyfriend in my bed.
When I get back we already have a very full weekend. I forget what happens Friday night but I know it’s something. We have a good friend’s 60th birthday on Saturday and on Sunday we’re having a dinner party for David and Anton. Anton is from Cape Town SA visiting L’David. I was going to ask for Monday off but I don’t think I’ll be able to do that after being away for so long. I’ll just have to behave myself on Sunday night.
Last night, Tuesday the 30th was nice. I took Simon and Jeremy (visiting Palm Springs from the UK) to my Corporate Secretary’s house out in the dessert. It’s an amazingly huge house that they just had build right outside Palm Springs. It was perfect.
The boys always wanted to see a huge USA house out in the dessert and we showed it to them. Lloyd pulled out the stops with Filet and shrimp. We ate outside by the pool and looked at the stars (the ones in heaven, not the ones walking the streets). It was just perfect. I behaved myself because I was driving so I have three drinks over a four hour period.
I think the boys were just gob smacked. (British term here)
When I got back to the room I just went to bed, it’s been a long two weeks.
Got up this morning and just took it easy. I was going to work out but just decided to chill instead. I packed, called the airlines to change to an earlier flight and then said goodbye to the boys. I have to say I was quite sad saying goodbye. They are the kinds of friends that you only see once a year or so but you pickup exactly where you left off.
Now for the LA experience. We’re going to have dinner with Mike and Gary tomorrow, Thursday NOV the 1st in their Hollywood hills home.
I might be working the weekend, we’ll see.
Until next post, take care.
Onward and upwards to new locations.
I’m really ready to be home to tell the truth. As it looks now I will be back in DC on the 7th but…..
The LA office might not be ready then, they’re having a few issues with the phones and network. I will be able to set up the computers but we need to make sure the internet works and the VPN is up and running. I might be in LA a few more days then I wanted. UGH!
I use UGH a lot lately.
I want my bed and my boyfriend in my bed.
When I get back we already have a very full weekend. I forget what happens Friday night but I know it’s something. We have a good friend’s 60th birthday on Saturday and on Sunday we’re having a dinner party for David and Anton. Anton is from Cape Town SA visiting L’David. I was going to ask for Monday off but I don’t think I’ll be able to do that after being away for so long. I’ll just have to behave myself on Sunday night.
Last night, Tuesday the 30th was nice. I took Simon and Jeremy (visiting Palm Springs from the UK) to my Corporate Secretary’s house out in the dessert. It’s an amazingly huge house that they just had build right outside Palm Springs. It was perfect.
The boys always wanted to see a huge USA house out in the dessert and we showed it to them. Lloyd pulled out the stops with Filet and shrimp. We ate outside by the pool and looked at the stars (the ones in heaven, not the ones walking the streets). It was just perfect. I behaved myself because I was driving so I have three drinks over a four hour period.
I think the boys were just gob smacked. (British term here)
When I got back to the room I just went to bed, it’s been a long two weeks.
Got up this morning and just took it easy. I was going to work out but just decided to chill instead. I packed, called the airlines to change to an earlier flight and then said goodbye to the boys. I have to say I was quite sad saying goodbye. They are the kinds of friends that you only see once a year or so but you pickup exactly where you left off.
Now for the LA experience. We’re going to have dinner with Mike and Gary tomorrow, Thursday NOV the 1st in their Hollywood hills home.
I might be working the weekend, we’ll see.
Until next post, take care.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas!
Ok, so now let’s just talk about Vegas.
What a pit.
Maybe it was because it was work, but I don’t think so.
It’s everything I don’t like about America rolled up into one hideous place.
It’s expansive and expensive, it’s tacky, it has the whole of Middle America visiting it. They are taking pictures of the fake Paris with no one wanting to see the real one.
The native girl sitting next to me at the info desk (actually more like old hag but that’s another story) keep going on about how great this city is. Did you see the piazzita san marko? She asks me, it’s just amazing. I then realize that she talking about the fake one in the Venetian, the one with the fake outside sky. I did say yes I had seen it but the real one was much more impressive. Ugh, that’s the way everything is here.
I did have a spa day on Saturday. Started at one and didn’t finish until six thirty. That was ok actuall. But yes again very expensive. A message and facial and manicure and pedicure cost around $600. The Same treatment in DC would be half that price. The message ended up with a happy ending, at the VENETIAN!!!!
Friday I did the strip with some work friends. We went to the Bellagio (sp?) to see the fountains. That was cool. We then went to some of the other casinos around. All I have to say is that if it’s not one of the newer nicer hotels, the casinos are just tragic. Scary Middle America with Middle America middles. Smoking and drinking. I ended up gambling some at Harrad’s on the $10 table. I put in twenty.
I won $120!
I lost $100!
I left with my original $20 and three free drinks, so not really that bad.
I then went back to my room and crashed, my work colleagues stayed up until 8am on Saturday and when I saw them in line for a cab to the airport they said they didn’t sleep at all the night before. That was at 10:30am. I’m so happy I went to bed.
The rest of the week we pretty much stayed at the hotel and worked the show. 6am until 7:30pm every day except Friday when I got to leave work at 1. I did go to the young leaders event on Thursday night. It was at Tao in the Venetain and was pretty cool. Because we were staff and they didn’t think that they had enough drink tickets I had to pay for my first drink. I got a martini; I was immediately $18 poorer.
Holy Jesus batman!
Luckily, or not, my boss came through before I needed another one and handed out the tickets to staff. The event was from 7 until 9. At around 15 to 9 we decided it was time to use the rest of the tickets, and we now had lots. I think I had three martinis before this. So we go up to the bar and order shots, we don’t do shots here but I can make you a martini sized lemon drop shot.
We bit.
I don’t remember about an hour of stuff. When I saw the girl I was working with the next morning I asked here where she was the night before I missed her. She was like “you said hi and we talked for a long time” I was like, Shit. One of my other friends walked be back to my hotel room. I came too during that walk.
But I wasn’t the worst.
This other girl that works for my company tried to and succeeded on grabbing a bottle of gray goose vodka from behind the bar. She had it for about five minutes when they discovered she had done it. She got thrown out of the bar and was marked with a black sharpie X on her wrist.
Didn’t make me feel so bad the next morning about my predicament.
I guess what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
I’m not coming back though.
What a pit.
Maybe it was because it was work, but I don’t think so.
It’s everything I don’t like about America rolled up into one hideous place.
It’s expansive and expensive, it’s tacky, it has the whole of Middle America visiting it. They are taking pictures of the fake Paris with no one wanting to see the real one.
The native girl sitting next to me at the info desk (actually more like old hag but that’s another story) keep going on about how great this city is. Did you see the piazzita san marko? She asks me, it’s just amazing. I then realize that she talking about the fake one in the Venetian, the one with the fake outside sky. I did say yes I had seen it but the real one was much more impressive. Ugh, that’s the way everything is here.
I did have a spa day on Saturday. Started at one and didn’t finish until six thirty. That was ok actuall. But yes again very expensive. A message and facial and manicure and pedicure cost around $600. The Same treatment in DC would be half that price. The message ended up with a happy ending, at the VENETIAN!!!!
Friday I did the strip with some work friends. We went to the Bellagio (sp?) to see the fountains. That was cool. We then went to some of the other casinos around. All I have to say is that if it’s not one of the newer nicer hotels, the casinos are just tragic. Scary Middle America with Middle America middles. Smoking and drinking. I ended up gambling some at Harrad’s on the $10 table. I put in twenty.
I won $120!
I lost $100!
I left with my original $20 and three free drinks, so not really that bad.
I then went back to my room and crashed, my work colleagues stayed up until 8am on Saturday and when I saw them in line for a cab to the airport they said they didn’t sleep at all the night before. That was at 10:30am. I’m so happy I went to bed.
The rest of the week we pretty much stayed at the hotel and worked the show. 6am until 7:30pm every day except Friday when I got to leave work at 1. I did go to the young leaders event on Thursday night. It was at Tao in the Venetain and was pretty cool. Because we were staff and they didn’t think that they had enough drink tickets I had to pay for my first drink. I got a martini; I was immediately $18 poorer.
Holy Jesus batman!
Luckily, or not, my boss came through before I needed another one and handed out the tickets to staff. The event was from 7 until 9. At around 15 to 9 we decided it was time to use the rest of the tickets, and we now had lots. I think I had three martinis before this. So we go up to the bar and order shots, we don’t do shots here but I can make you a martini sized lemon drop shot.
We bit.
I don’t remember about an hour of stuff. When I saw the girl I was working with the next morning I asked here where she was the night before I missed her. She was like “you said hi and we talked for a long time” I was like, Shit. One of my other friends walked be back to my hotel room. I came too during that walk.
But I wasn’t the worst.
This other girl that works for my company tried to and succeeded on grabbing a bottle of gray goose vodka from behind the bar. She had it for about five minutes when they discovered she had done it. She got thrown out of the bar and was marked with a black sharpie X on her wrist.
Didn’t make me feel so bad the next morning about my predicament.
I guess what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
I’m not coming back though.
OMG! Las Vegas on a Sunday!
This was amazing. I decided to go to the airport early because I was over the whole Las Vegas thing after a week of working a conference.
Boy am I glad I did. It was just a zoo. I’ve traveled all over the world and I’ve never seen an airport so crowded. The line started all the way on the other side of the airport. I made it to a point where I thought I was getting close only to have to turn the corner for another line that bended back around again. That happened three times!
I’m never coming back to Vegas, that’s all I have to say.
Boy am I glad I did. It was just a zoo. I’ve traveled all over the world and I’ve never seen an airport so crowded. The line started all the way on the other side of the airport. I made it to a point where I thought I was getting close only to have to turn the corner for another line that bended back around again. That happened three times!
I’m never coming back to Vegas, that’s all I have to say.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Travel, travel, travel.
Here is my schedule for the next two plus weeks. Ugh..
Leave for Dulles at 6am on Sunday the 21st for a 8:30am flight to Las Vegas. Staying there until the 28th.
Catch plane from LAS to Palm Springs to sort out our corporate secretary’s internet access. 28th throught 31st. Paid for by work think you very much.
Leave Palm Springs for LAX on the 31st to set up new LA office. Work Thursday, Friday and Monday and come back on the 6th.
Weekend with Dave in LA.
I was supposed to be back on the 28th, 29th and 30th but they decided to send me to Palm Springs.
I will have 50089 points after this. Just making gold by the skin of my teeth.
Leave for Dulles at 6am on Sunday the 21st for a 8:30am flight to Las Vegas. Staying there until the 28th.
Catch plane from LAS to Palm Springs to sort out our corporate secretary’s internet access. 28th throught 31st. Paid for by work think you very much.
Leave Palm Springs for LAX on the 31st to set up new LA office. Work Thursday, Friday and Monday and come back on the 6th.
Weekend with Dave in LA.
I was supposed to be back on the 28th, 29th and 30th but they decided to send me to Palm Springs.
I will have 50089 points after this. Just making gold by the skin of my teeth.
Monday, October 15, 2007
I'm tired!
I’ve gotten a few messages about not updating my blog, so here we go.
Friday night we took L’Alex out for his birthday at Monsire. It was a nice little dinner and everyone left with a full belly. We didn’t go out because we had to get up early the next morning to drive to a birthday party in North Carolina.
It was a five hour drive down there on Saturday and 5 hours back on Sunday. The surprise was that the party ended at 8. I suppose this was going to happen considering that Ivy just had an emergency c-section two Wednesdays ago and the baby was still in the neonatal care unit. That and the fact she had to “pump” her breast for the new baby at 8. (I wasn’t sticking around for that one) I was surprised that they still had the party to tell the truth. We ended up going back to the hotel room and watching the Simpson’s move on pay per view afterwards and got home kind of early on Sunday.
The weird thing is seeing all these people that I spent my twenties with turning 40ish. We starting tell stories from college and our younger years. It was just bizarre. I still think of myself at 20 something, and I’m not. It’s better than the alternative I suppose.
On our way home, L’Dave asked us to come pick him up in Alexandria. He had spent the night there with a friend after going dancing all night. We ended up going back to our house and drinking wine on the roof until it was close to time to go to dinner at Derek’s house that evening.
So to put everything in perspective, we had a birthday dinner with L’Alex on Friday night. Got up on Saturday and drove 300 miles to Durham for a BBQ\Birthday from 3:30 until 8, watched a movie, got 8 hours sleep, drove 300 miles back to DC, picked our friend up and went back to our house for wine on the roof followed by dinner at a friend’s house.
All in a typical weekend at Crave’s
This week I’m getting ready for the Fall meeting at work. I’m trying to get some computers set up and shipped to LA for the setup of the office there. I’ll be in Las Vegas from the 21st of October to the 28th for the fall meeting. I’m back in town for two days and then I’m off to Los Angeles to set up the new office out there. I’ll finally be home on November the 6th. It’s all such a whorl wind. While I’m in LA I’m going to have dinner with some friends who live out there and Dave should come over for that.
Once we get back we have a 60th birthday bash to go to on the 10th of November and on the 11th we’ll be having a dinner party in honor of L’Dave’s love interest from South Africa who is in town for three weeks. Oh, and we’re going to London for Thanksgiving.
Luckily we staying home for Christmas, I might get some rest then but probably not. The family is supposed to come visit then.
Friday night we took L’Alex out for his birthday at Monsire. It was a nice little dinner and everyone left with a full belly. We didn’t go out because we had to get up early the next morning to drive to a birthday party in North Carolina.
It was a five hour drive down there on Saturday and 5 hours back on Sunday. The surprise was that the party ended at 8. I suppose this was going to happen considering that Ivy just had an emergency c-section two Wednesdays ago and the baby was still in the neonatal care unit. That and the fact she had to “pump” her breast for the new baby at 8. (I wasn’t sticking around for that one) I was surprised that they still had the party to tell the truth. We ended up going back to the hotel room and watching the Simpson’s move on pay per view afterwards and got home kind of early on Sunday.
The weird thing is seeing all these people that I spent my twenties with turning 40ish. We starting tell stories from college and our younger years. It was just bizarre. I still think of myself at 20 something, and I’m not. It’s better than the alternative I suppose.
On our way home, L’Dave asked us to come pick him up in Alexandria. He had spent the night there with a friend after going dancing all night. We ended up going back to our house and drinking wine on the roof until it was close to time to go to dinner at Derek’s house that evening.
So to put everything in perspective, we had a birthday dinner with L’Alex on Friday night. Got up on Saturday and drove 300 miles to Durham for a BBQ\Birthday from 3:30 until 8, watched a movie, got 8 hours sleep, drove 300 miles back to DC, picked our friend up and went back to our house for wine on the roof followed by dinner at a friend’s house.
All in a typical weekend at Crave’s
This week I’m getting ready for the Fall meeting at work. I’m trying to get some computers set up and shipped to LA for the setup of the office there. I’ll be in Las Vegas from the 21st of October to the 28th for the fall meeting. I’m back in town for two days and then I’m off to Los Angeles to set up the new office out there. I’ll finally be home on November the 6th. It’s all such a whorl wind. While I’m in LA I’m going to have dinner with some friends who live out there and Dave should come over for that.
Once we get back we have a 60th birthday bash to go to on the 10th of November and on the 11th we’ll be having a dinner party in honor of L’Dave’s love interest from South Africa who is in town for three weeks. Oh, and we’re going to London for Thanksgiving.
Luckily we staying home for Christmas, I might get some rest then but probably not. The family is supposed to come visit then.
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