Recipe for a really really good weekend
It occurred to me today that this weekend was rather exceptional. Here’s a chronological recap – you be the judge.
1. Friday: both Tracy and I worked from home. She had no conference calls (I still did), and Danzig got to sleep on the couch all day.
2. Friday evening: Drove out to Boring, OR for Ian and Anne’s wedding. They attended ours almost four years ago, and were part of the post-wedding shenanigans that shall go unmentioned here since they’re now respected members of the public education system. It was a cool ceremony at Anne’s childhood home, and a Linfield mini-reunion went down, as tends to happen at such events. Always good to see everyone.
3. Saturday morning: I got the early shift with Danzig (who clearly lacks the human appreciation of sleeping in on weekends), and did more work on the dog run. It’s been a slow project (mostly due to other weekend commitments), but I removed the concrete pad frame, shoveled some dirt, bought and installed cedar lattice to seal the perimeter, and did some general clean-up.
4. Saturday evening: Went to the Timbers game, who went on the beat Miami 3-1, and secure the first playoff spot of the season. Nathan and Cara came along with 2-month-old Sofia, who was a real trooper throughout the game. Good buddy Brian came along as well, who needs to work on selling Timbers games better to his fiance Kate.
5. Late Saturday evening: after the game we picked up Korean tacos from KOI, a mobile taco truck that announces its daily locations via Twitter. No joke: these are probably the best tacos in all of Portland. Not greasy, super tasty, with a spicy-and-sweet mix that’ll blow you away. I now plan on starting lunch a few times a week with a quick Twitter check to see if the truck is anywhere near my office.
6. Sunday morning: Tracy got the early shift with Danzig (is this kid practice?) and I slept in till 7:30-ish. After waking up, I did a little more work on the dog run, burying some bricks underneath each gate to prevent the dog from digging his way out (if he still manages to escape, he’s clearly earned his freedom), and installing the chainlink gate in the back. All it needs now is some concrete sealer and a couple minor gaps sealed off and it’ll be ready for Danzig’s use. Just in time for the Fall, when he has to move back inside!
7. Sunday, Noon: Got lunch at Red Robin on our way to a movie. I ordered my usual burger and fries with a side of ranch. Tracy orders a side of ranch for her fries as well, which she never does. Once the food arrives, she promptly hands her side of ranch to me, saying she ordered it for me so I wouldn’t run out. If that ain’t love, then I don’t know what is! It’s that, or else she wants some new shoes. Awaiting the verdict.
8. Sunday afternoon: watched Inglorious Basterds, which is probably now my favorite movie of 2009. It had everything I like in a movie: blood ‘n guts, evil villains, great characters, excellent cast, and intelligent dialogue. Oh yeah…plenty of killin’ Nazis too. Brad Pitt was good, just like everything else he’s in. But the real breakout was Christoph Waltz, a European-known actor who will probably get an Oscar nomination and will promptly buy a house in Los Angeles next month with his new American stardom. Waltz played the super-evil Col. Landa, who will likely be remember as one of the most vile villians in recent film history.
9. Sunday night: After taking Danzig to the dog park, Tracy served up one my my favorite meals – corned beef and cabbage. Every Irishmen squeals with glee when something boiled and served with mustard still manages to be very awesome.
The next three weekends involve an old friend from New York coming to visit, and both ends of a major vacation. This is gonne be one rough month. Stay tuned for big news (no, it ain’t children!).
August 25th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
1) WOW, congrats to Anne and Ian! Good to hear when a fellow SPED teach gets married, as we are an odd breed.
2) Giving up a side of ranch is def. worth a new pair of shoes!
3) Corned beef and cabbage is also one of our faves! We will have to get the 4 of us together on a St. Patty’s hit the corned beef and cabbage and do a jig.