Highlights of the week

First, there were some lowlights. Like with Words with Friends. I've a lost a couple of games...argh. And seriously, WwF? You won't allow me to play "cryer" but you let me play this?

An obscure Southeast Asian tree?

Also, gas here is up to $3.79 a gallon. I'm sure it won't be long before it goes to $4. Blech. Just in time for summer when I am now 90 miles from the beach.

And...one of my pet peeves, folks who double-park:

Thankfully, not a packed day at this lot.

BUT, there were many highlights to be had this week. The girl had a couple of orchestra performances, including another closed-door ensemble competition tonight. Fingers crossed!

Surprises were delivered as more awesome gifts came to my door:

More splendid stuff from my Amazon Wish List!

And also an unexpected bonus treat--caramel apples set on 10 from Sticky Fingers Gourmet Apples!

Yes, they were delicious.

All in all, a very good week.

GiveTuscaloosa

I have a tele-commuting friend from work, L, (who is a Words With Friends addict as well) who lives in Alabama and survived, by two miles, the tornadoes that tore up Tuscaloosa.  L and her family have been helping any way they can -- grilling up food and driving their cars to deliver basic necessities to others not as lucky. The scene they describe is devastatingly surreal. I can only imagine how folks are taking it in day by day, alternating between sorrow and surviving, both so exhausting.

If anyone wants to donate to the immediate needs of the tornado victims and disaster relief in Tuscaloosa, please go to GiveTuscaloosa.com

What a Weekend for President Obama

First he nails the White House Correspondents' Dinner and now Osama Bin Laden.

Per the New York Post:

Gotta say, this event tops when Zarqawi was killed in Iraq back in 2006 and the New York Post had picture of his corpse on the front page with the headline "Gotcha!" and a dialogue bubble coming out of his mouth with the words, "Warm up the virgins".

Needless to say, this makes me think of 9/11.

Things are still raw and emotional but of course I can't help but wonder how this will change how I will remember 9/11 now.  And already other conversations are starting--where our relationship with Pakistan is, counter-attacks, and increased security--but for now, I feel like there is, at the very least, a symbolic sigh of relief.

The Annual Rosewood Crawfish Festival

Today it was a gorgeous day and we went to the annual Rosewood Crawfish Festival, less than a mile walk away from our house.

It was a nice, efficient little festival with various foods and Bud Light on tap. But of course, I had to try the Crawfish:

I split this 2.5 pound "serving" with Professor X (Paul being allergic and the girl having zero interest to crawfish) and it was just right. It ends up being a lot of work eating these, so by the time I made my way to the end, I felt close to full.  Thankfully there were vendors selling big ice cream cones to top it off.

One of the highlights of the festival was a musical performance by Eve6.  According to the Free Times, Columbia's Crawfish Festival was the 2nd stop on their first tour in years.  Remember "Inside Out"?

Want to put my tender
heart in a blender
watch it spin 'round into a beautiful oblivion

Unfortunately the girl didn't, so we had little gumption to stay.  But it was a great way to spend an afternoon on a gorgeous day.  Definitely looking forward to next year's festival.

The Royal Wedding

I didn't think I'd have any interest in watching the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine but I ended up flipping it on when I got up.  The girl had grand plans to get up early to watch it because one of her friends is an apparent Anglophile and was planning on watching it.  But, no surprise to me, she didn't have the same pull at 5am herself.  Fortunately she has the modern convenience of the DVR.

I remember being curious enough about the Prince Charles and Diana wedding 30 years ago and getting up before dawn to watch it.  I also remember being surprised that something so romantic in concept could be so incredibly boring, stiff, and drawn out.  And that I actually got up so early to witness it.  Frankly, what I also very clearly remember at the time of Prince Charles' engagement, was the big hullabaloo about how the bearer of future heirs to the throne had to enter marriage a virgin.  And my recollection is, that there was an official confirmation of it back then.  Well, it's either a good sign of progressiveness or privacy but I'm relieved that it wasn't a part of the news this year.  Because let's face it, Catherine wasn't a 19-year-old preschool teacher when she got engaged.

Anyhoo, today I managed to wake up in time to watch William and Catherine's slow exit from the cathedral and I have to say, I really liked her dress.  The silhouette reminded me of the wedding gown Julie Andrews wore in "The Sound of Music" when she got married and the actual style with the lace overlay over the bustier frame was an obvious nod to the gown Grace Kelly wore in her wedding to Prince Rainier.

I caught a highlight reel on CNN of the actual ceremony and I loved the little smirk Catherine reflexively gives when William says "for richer or poorer".  I'm sure she was so relieved that she reined in a b!tch, please eyeroll during that part of the vows. And soon, they will be off on their honeymoon.  Am I the only one who finds that ironic?  Isn't their Royal lives the stuff honeymoons are made of?

Anybody else watch some of this?  I have a feeling this marriage is going to be a lot more quiet, and hopefully happier and more fulfilling, than the one I got up before dawn 30 years ago.

And there's more!

I got a Fedex of more loot!

Including the absolutely lovely little scrapbook and some great stickers.  I love it.  Thank you!

Bday weekend

I was psyched to spend my birthday doing one of my favorite activities: feasting. Paul and the girl got a bunch of fancy eats at The Gourmet Shop:

The Haribo Fruit Salad was my favorite candy and I loved the Idiazabal cheese (it's like a softer version of Parmesan but also has a smoky and buttery essence) and of course, the smoked salmon and bagels!

I even got to enjoy some caviar!  The best part is that these were all treats that I really wouldn't feel right getting myself but when I'm gifted with it--I gotta enjoy it!

I was thrilled to receive this birthday gift from my friend Linda--can't wait to cash it in next time I'm in SoCal!

And I received these wonderful gifts from Opa & Oma, Nana, and my sister and her family:

A VERY happy birthday for me!