lands end

Happy Memorial Day!

Ben and I both had the day off of work, which is pretty darn rare - thank you, adult world - and we grabbed for the gusto!

We drove into the city for a fabulous brunch at our ever-favorite Dottie's True Blue Cafe.  Seriously one of the most delightful brunches I've ever partaken of!  The 45-minute wait outside in the sketchy-sketch Tenderloin district is worth it, I promise.

Then we drove over to the Sutro Baths and hiked along the Land's End trail to Eagle's point - a gorgeous and green - and very foggy - walk.  Supposedly there are great views of the ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge, but it was too darn foggy to see anything!  That is how all of our San Francisco experiences seem to be, and that is why we live in the East Bay!

As you can see, I am very bundled up - very much on par for Memorial Day on the Northern California coast!  Gotta love it.

The hike was beautiful, and for a little while the fog lifted and we could see some of the pretty off-shore views!  But even when it was foggy, the path was so pretty and all of the greenery was so nice; PLUS, we got to listen to the fog horns all day which was awesome.  What fun to walk along the edge of the continent.

We drove back to Walnut Creek, then, but first we stopped at Ici's Ice Cream - a fun little joint in Berkeley and had some ice cream - Rosemary Pine Nut Praline, Cookies and Cream, Malted Vanilla - Candied Peanut, and Brown Sugar - Gingersnap flavors.  Can you really ask for anything more gourmet?  Definitely a must-have when in Berkeley.

Then dinner, and then some macarons we picked up at Miette while we were in the city.  The best one?  Rose-Geranium flavor.  Mmm-hmm.  

So yes, our day was mostly about food . . . but what day in the life of Ben and Karin is not mostly about food?  Not a one.  {We did do a little hiking in there, okay Dad??}

A very happy Memorial Day, indeed.

Destin Vacation

We just spent a glorious week in Destin, Florida with the Myers clan!  Always a great get-away.

We were only about 50 miles away from my brother Scott who is serving a mission in Florida . . that was torture, let me tell you!

One day we went for a Dolphin-watching and shell-gathering trip.

Kylene, Connor, Zach, and Ben and me. 

 Does this hat not make me look like a complete goober??  Last time we vacationed in Destin I got the worst sunburn and I was determined to not burn this time.  It was a success.  Goober hat = worth it.

Ashley, Ben, me.

Ben and April bonded.  Mostly because Ben can throw her the highest.

 Most days we spent a lot of time at the beach and a lot of time in the backyard pool.  Did I mention our week was glorious?

The original Myers fam.

There are also some awesome outlets in Destin and let's just say we enjoyed them.  [I feel like I have a new wardrobe!]

Many, many thanks to this cute couple for a great week!

they say the funniest things

My peeps, that is. 

For example . . 

The other day we were playing a game where I say the beginning of a popular phrase and the residents, as a group, finish it.  Things like "Practice makes _________" (perfect), or "A friend in need is __________" (a friend indeed).  Lots of good old ones I've never heard before and that I can't think of right now. 

One of them is "Time is _________."  The answers are "the best healer" and "of the essence."  

We have one resident who is tiny, so cute, and from the east, with a thick eastern accent.  She is from a town called "Cutler" but according to her she is from "CUTluh."  She answered "Time is _______" with the word "skass."  I'm thinkin "Skass?  Time is skass? What the heck?!"  I repeated it back to her and she said, "Yeah, time is skass!"  I said "Oohhh, okayy" and moved on.  Then one of the managers came into the room just to listen in and I said "Hey, listen to this - I just learned that 'time is skass' . . ?"  She said it a couple of times and thought about it and then said "Scarce!  Time is scarce!"

That gave us a good laugh.

Yesterday we were talking about travel and I asked the residents to think back to the first time they took an airplane.  I'm not allowed to say "Do you remember?" but I wanted them to think about it.  

I asked one gentleman where he flew the first time he took an airplane trip and he said "TO THE AIRPORT!!"  Oh dear goodness he thought he was so funny!  We all did.  Another good laugh.

They are hilarious.

what we did in March

Did I really not blog all of March?  Geez lou-eez.  I'm not even sure anything happened!  Let's see.

Oh.

BEN TURNED TWENTY-SIX!

His birthday was on a Sunday and I was still feeling crummy from surgery, so we decided that we'd throw a little party the following Sunday.  But in the meantime . . we ordered a custom cake from Coldstone and paid for it online to eat on his actual b-day.  I was going to pick it up on Sunday after Church (already paid for, not breaking the Sabbath, right?!).  We ordered a "Petite Cake" for $8.

I went to pick it up after Church the next day and they hadn't made it.  The poor girl working called her boss and then told me they could offer me a "Small Cake" and a six-pack of ice cream cupcakes.  Well, all of the "Small Cakes" were Devil's Food and Ben doesn't like that so I asked if I could just have a refund instead.  She called her boss and then told me I could just take any cake I wanted.  So, I took the biggest one they had!  Normally $40 and we paid only $8.  And I wrote the birthday message on it myself when I got home (so ugly!).

 We had a great party for Ben with some friends the next Sunday.  Homemade treats this time.

My parents visited us for dinner and ice cream as part of Dad's birthday celebration.  Have I mentioned that I love living so close to my family?!

We went to the Creamery . . but are you surprised?

And we went to see "Lamb of God" on Easter Sunday.

stop-light pick-up

The best thing happened to me today.

I was sitting at a stop light with all the windows half-down because it was so warm. I was also listening to music and blowing my nose, the most attractive thing i do. I felt like I was being watched - you know the feeling - so I looked to my right and the guy in the next car was looking at me. Ethnic. Mid-twenties. Nice car. Smart/studious-looking. I think "whatever" - awkward eye-contacts with cars next to you happen every so often - and I go back to just sitting there. Then, I hear him saying "Excuse me!" so I roll down my window and he says "Excuse me, would you like to go get coffee with me or something if you have the time?" And as the light turns green I say "I'm married! Sorry!" and drive off.

Either he is really desperate or I am super attractive when I blow my nose.

what we did in february

Maybe I'll make blogging a regular part of my life in March.  For now, here's what we did in February . .

We went to the Creamery.  Just once.  We are looking forward to the warmer months ahead when we can make visits to the Creamery a weekly habit.

Another flu bug passed through my work community, so activities were shut down to prevent germ spreading.  When activities are shut down, I have nothing to do, and I happened to get a Saturday off!  Ben and I took advantage to grab some good eats in Berkeley.  This is cremini mushroom, onion, mozzarella, arugula in a lemon vinaigrette, ricotta salata pizza!  Talk about a mouth-full.  The ice cream flavors are Rosemary Pine-nut Praline and Rose Vanilla . . . different, yet completely delightful.

We celebrated Valentine's Day!  Ben bought me one pound of See's Candies Nut & Chews.  That gives him 1,000 husband points a day for a whole month. 

Some residents and I had fun dancing during our Valentine's Day social at work.  I got a big hug after this dance.

I had surgery!  I had a laparoscopy last week to remove some cysts.  Mom came up and took such good care of me.  Then I came down with a cold and I was just miserable!  I really hate that kind of stuff, and I don't know what you think, but I'm pretty sure the hospital look is just not my best . . 

Ben and I finished season 3 of Downton Abbey.  I really love Downton Abbey and I can't wait until season 4.  After finishing season 3, though, . . REALLY, DOWNTON ABBEY, REALLY!?

Ben and I will just have to be content in our love and calling each other "dahrling" in English accents.

Ben had a fantastic time at some work training in NYC.  It was more like a workation because he got to see a show on Broadway, visit Rucker Park, and eat at lots of yummy restaurants.  He even brought me some macarons from La Maison du Chocolat, one of my fav places from Paris.

Here's to March!  :)

what we did in January

It seems as though I have made an exit from the blogging world.  This is me . . making an entrance!

Here is what we did in January.

I bought myself an iPad!  And, well, . . I love it.

We moved!

Just about one mile away.  I'm even closer to work now, and we didn't think that was even possible!

If you need our new address just let me know . . to like, you know, send us a housewarming gift or something.

I've had a couple of fun projects keeping me busy.

These curtains were about 7" too short so I bought some fabric and lengthened them.  I am super pleased!

Most of the frames are still empty and now I'm on a hunt for the perfect prints to fill them.

We joined a gym!

A brand-spanking-new 24 Hour Fitness opened up the weekend we moved about 1/2 mile from us.  We got a great membership deal and we are loving the gym!  I have become a religious "BodyPump"-er . . can you imagine me in a class with a dumbbell?!  *Enter grunting noise here.*  

This month is now more than half-way over . . sometime I'll let you know what we did in the month of February.