Anniversaries, Certificates, and Happiness

Let me see - I got my certs from Texas, so I am officially hireable, and doggedly pursuing employment! Thankfully, I didn't have a lot of subbing jobs this week - Manny got sick mid last week, and we both weathered the weekend sick. Ewww! He's just a little sniffly now, but I don't have a voice...well, not a normal one! :) Tuesday was our 1-year anniversary, and we had lots of fun, even though we were sick. We both accepted that money is tight, and that we both felt crummy so we were just cool with staying at home. I sent Manny on a scavenger hunt for his present. My mom and dad used to do that...still do actually, and Manny just had a BALL with it. He'd find one clue, and there'd be a present and then he'd have to figure out what the next clue meant. It was adorable - this big man lumbering around the apartment with a little wicker basket. He gave me a beautiful and I mean BEAUTIFUL bouquet of fuschia roses with little purple mini-daisies (montecasino) that he picked out himself - I swear the man always buys me flowers more beautiful than any I've ever seen. He also got me a gift card for Barnes and Noble (along with a card that choked me up) and we went together and I got a book for myself and the board game "Clue" for both of us. It seems that we have a lot of "party" games and not that many that just the two of us can play.

We watched a couple of movies when we got home, and I made fresh bread (didn't turn out that good - I stink at making bread) and Chicken Milano. It was, if I do say so myself, DELISH! Manny loved it, too. That was pretty much our anniversary. Well, he put one of my roses between his teeth when I was humming along to a song in the kitchen while I was cooking dinner, and he took my hand and my waist and danced around the kitchen with me. Daddy used to do that with Mama and I always told myself that I wanted little pleasures like that...he either reads my mind, or he is exactly the man I've always looked for. :)

Last night, I made Rosemary Sherry porkchops again, but tweaked the amounts of both rosemary and sherry to give it more flavor - he liked it a lot. After dinner, we were sitting there, and he said, "You know, Baby, before you moved down, I was actually really worried about you cooking...I know our tastes are different. But you know, it has been great. It's been exciting. Everything you try is good and interesting and really tasty. Thank you."

That was so sweet - I was worried about that before and even after I moved down. Still sick today. 'Have a job tomorrow...'hope i'll have my voice back by then!

It's been ages

I'm sorry it's been so long, but as I said, I got a job subbing for the district where I'd eventually like to work full-time. I worked almost every day this week, and even though I don't like that sometimes the teachers don't give me enough information, I really like that I'm getting to be in different grade levels and see the different schools. I did Kindergarten yesterday, and I came home and told Manny that it reminded me why I don't want to teach Kindergarten again. Honestly, I don't think I have enough patience for the young ones. I did sub for a Social Studies/Science teacher in the 5th grade, and LOVED IT! So, I think that I'll be looking into teaching positions for 4th grade and up. It feels so GOOD to be working again...to be in the classroom...to feel like I'm contributing to the household (even though I do all the "women's work" already)...I mean contributing financially.

I had my first experience with hardcore "gamers." Manny and I went out at 12am to pick up his copy of the new Halo Reach game from GameStop. He's so funny - he said, "Well, this is cool. I have to be the only guy here with a girlfriend!" :)

There honestly hasn't been much to report...my throat has been going wonky again like it was last year in New Jersey, but fortunately, I haven't lost my voice. I am learning more places in Houston and how to get to them because I go to a different school every day. Manny just decided that Fridays and/or Saturdays are always "Date Night" for us, and I really appreciate that. Last night we were sitting all cozy on the sofa listening to a man talk about the difference in how children were raised maybe a decade ago in comparison to today, and he said, "Honey, how about if I go out and get us something to eat?" Well, I'd already told him what I was cooking for dinner, and it really wasn't a big deal, so I said, "Why?" "Well, so that you could have a break from cooking. You cook all the time." So we had little personal pizzas from Schlotzky's. It was so sweet of him!

The library has begun to be a weekly or bi-weekly adventure. I have less time to read books now that I'm working, but there is almost always a space of time either in the morning, or in the afternoon when Manny is not around and I can sit on the sofa and sink my teeth into a good mystery. He always asks me about my book and why I like it...if the writer is good, or just average...I really appreciate that he tries to take an interest in things that I enjoy. He even leaned over my shoulder this past Sunday and asked questions about the cross-stitch I was doing.

Some random facts about Houston:

There are "Adult Stores" EVERYWHERE which I think is pretty awkward.

They don't call Laundromats "laundromats" - they are "washaterias" and if you think that's Spanish, it's not - in Spanish, it's "lavanderia." WEIRD!

There is a completely tactless shop that I pass almost every day on my way to work - Manny does, too. I couldn't believe the name really meant what I thought it was until I saw the ads in the windows, and I just turned up my nose, took a picture for you all and went on my merry way. Can you guess what kind of shop this is?

Concert from last Thursday....

So, the VERY last part of my birthday present was a concert at the House of Blues in downtown Houston. Rodrigo and Gabriela are two guitarists from Mexico, and they are AMAZING. They play such a high-energy concert. We got down there at 8 and they came on at about 8:30...they played for two hours, and it was phenominal - I didn't even mind that we stood the whole time to see them. I just stood there in the horrible heat, leaning back against Manny's chest, and it we tapped out feet and swayed to the rythm of the music. It was AMAZING. At one point he leaned over, and said "I THINK this is the last part of your birthday present. Yup. That does it." It was wonderful.

I AM NOW AN EMPLOYEE OF THE NEAREST SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A PART-TIME SUB - I can start work on Tuesday!!!

Birthday continued...

So, as I was saying, we were headed to Austin, and the first place we got to was "The Oasis"...it's like a luxury restaurant - three floors, all with balconies looking out onto beautiful Lake Travis. Again, you have to remember that I had NO IDEA where we were going or what we were doing, and Manny had been planning this all for quite some time. It ended up that the view was gorgeous, the food was DELICIOUS if not SCRUMPTIOUS, and when our waitress found out that it was my birthday, she gave us a brownie with ice cream on the house. We also had an "Oasis Sunset" that we shared between the two of us and we got to bring the glass home!!!

Then we looked around for a beach, but found out that the nearest beach was called "Hippie Hollow" and was a nude beach. UH-OH! So we decided to head on to our next "mystery" destination. It ended up that we were staying in a really swanky hotel (I knew it was swanky because it had a huge fountain out front where people drive up) called the Omni - their trademark symbol is the orchid - and when you walk in, it's all dark paneled wood, and orchids EVERYWHERE!!! It was absolutely stunning. Well, the fun part was that as we got into the elevator, a man got in with us who had a french manicure on his longer-than-normal nails. I had heard a woman say to him before he got on the elevator "Are you gonna be ready by 5?" It ended up that I got a little dressed up and that's just about when we were going downstairs...it ended up that 2 floors down, the elevator stopped and 2 very tall men in heavy makeup and ball gowns with 7" tiaras stepped on with men in tight dress shirts, leather pants, and crowns. Manny looked at the men in ballgowns and said to me "Wow, Honey, I thought YOU looked nice tonight!" I said to the queens "Gee, thanks for upstaging me!" They both preened at Manny's compliment and then one very sweet one looked at me and said, "Yes, but you get to look pretty every day." Well, we got to the lobby, and we were engulfed in heavy perfume, masculine frames and SEQUINS!!! Manny was so upset - "I've been planning for this forever - I take you to a fancy place and it's a drag queen convention. I'm so sorry." He was so upset, but I didn't mind at all, and assured him I was having the time of my life. We went in to downtown Austin and ended up going to a wonderful little Irish Pub called "fado" and I had the BEST fish and chips since Gibraltar!!! Manny had Guiness BBQ ribs. And fell in love with Smithwyck's Ale. Then, a short little walk to 6th Street - where the party is, I guess. Well, we ended up walking in to a few little pubs and bars and I had a margarita. It was the best I'd ever had...very sweet. Aunt Toni, you'll understand this from Key West, I had two more, and was quite buzzed. Apparently, being quite buzzed makes me "quite paranoid." Apparently I was asking Manny as we walked back to the car, "Manny, am I walking funny? Are my eyes red? Do people know I've had 3 margaritas? I need to sit down, Manny. You need to find me a chair." I got so close to crying, it was ridiculous. However, I got goofy after that, and slept very well that night.

The next morning, we drove back to Lake Travis and rented a WAVE RUNNER! We had it for an hour, and we both got a turn to drive. It maxed out at 60 mph, and we smiled, and laughed, and screamed. It was amazing, and when we got home we were POOPED! But it was a marvelous weekend, and Manny had off on Monday, so we just relaxed, and had a wonderful time cleaning house, and cooking, and laughing, and watching tv.

So that was my birthday weekend...Post from the Thursday concert soon!

My birthday week...

So, it was my birthday week last week - apparently that's how they do it in Puerto Rican circles, or is it just the Soto/Velez clan? :) Let me see - I don't actually think we did much of anything on the weekend. On Monday, the cards started coming - one from my penpal in England, Katherine, one from my friend Lynne, and a present from my Aunt Toni. And so the tradition began - the tradition that we've observed in my family for ages. (That Manny helped me keep) When Manny came home from work, he looked at each card after I'd read it and commented on it, and then we set them on the dining room table around the velvety red roses he'd surprised me with when he came home from work (a day before my birthday). I opened Aunt Toni's present, and I couldn't have been more delighted to toss Manny's potato peeler in the trash can and replace it with the brand new one in my hand. Then....TA DA - Rada cutlery!!! (For those of you who don't know, these knives are the nicest, sharpest, most ergonomic knives in the cosmos, and they are AMAZING!) Well, I understandably had a hissy fit - I had a paring knife, a longer knife for cutting meat, and A TOMATO KNIFE all nestled in a pretty gift box with fuzzy blue interior! (I make bruschetta at least once a week, and want to make it more now just so I have an excuse to use the knives!) Manny, poor man, had no idea what I was holding and said in a flat "you're crazy, woman" voice, "Knives. Yaaaaaaaaaay." :)

That night, he gave me my birthday card, and I cried. Then I looked again in the envelope at his prompting and cried with happiness at the beautiful poem he had written me. I keep it in my nightstand and read it...It's still hard to believe that someone so wonderful feels that way about me.

So...the morn of my birthday dawned - I kissed Manny off to work as he covered my face with little kisses saying "Happy Birthday, Baby" between each one. Then, I went back to bed. My phone rang, and I got a rousing chorus of Bilingual Happy Birthday songs from Lucy and Willie! Then, a call from Trinee - we caught up and it was GREAT! Then a call from Uncle Rick, and a call from Katy, and...on the story goes. Then cards and presents from Nanny and Uncle Bob, Uncle Rick, and a beautiful scrapbook of my students from Mama. That night my neighbor came over to borrow some flour (I love having NEIGHBORS!!!) and we ended up talking for a couple of hours. Manny made me NY Sirloin steak and his special rice for dinner, and it was DELICIOUS!!!

On Wednesday, I tried a Gnocchi and Suasage recipe that is so good, I will post it if any of you are interested...post comments to this posting if you are, and on Thursday, I made rosemary sherry porkchops for the boys while they made their picks for their Fantasy Football team. Justin and Sheri gave me a card and BEAUTIFUL purple mums and astroelmaria and red roses!

Friday...well, I don't remember Friday, but I knew that Sunday was the day that Manny was planning my "big surprise" that he'd been dangling in front of my nose for the past 2-3 weeks.

Saturday morning, I knew he had to work all day, so I ignored him when he started putzing around the apartment. "Baby? Baby?" I heard. "Baby, I need you to get up and pack some stuff."

"Why?" "Because it's your birthday surprise!" "That's tomorrow! Your schedule says so!" "Nope," he said. "Let's go!" (I found out later that everyone at work had been in on it - his boss had made a special fake schedule for him to hang on the fridge, and his coworkers suggested places for us to go!

In about an hour and a half (I had to shower and pack, and find alternate clothes to the ones I was planning on washing and having ready for the next day.) we set off. We got breakfast tacos and sandwiches in the drive thru, and then I had to guess where we were headed. I had no idea. I don't remember which rollercoaster track is Beltway 8 or the Sam Houston Tollway or 45 or 610 or 59 or 228...But I knew we weren't headed in the direction of Galveston, so I could scratch that off the list. It ended up that we were headed to Austin, and the drive was beautiful...Austin is so unlike Houston - it's mountains, and hills and trees, and rivers, and NO CHAIN RESTAURANTS and bridges, and....the Oasis Restaurant on Lake Travis.

More later...must make dinner!

Sorry, folks, but I'll be taking a bit of a haitus until Monday or Tuesday. BUSY WEEK, and Manny has secret birthday celebrations planned on the weekend!

Well - - -

Well, on Wednesday, Manny had a day off and we decided to go to the Houston Zoo. The zoos where I come from were nothing like this one - Manny asked me what my favorite part of zoo was - if I had a favorite animal - I told him that it was the proximity. You should have been there when we saw the lioness sleeping. Truly, I was only inches from her, through the glass. However, like I said abefore, it was brutally hot, and honestly, I was a real wuss about it. It was nice to go there and spend time together doing something simple. Well...enjoy the pictures!

Vampire Bats Cheetah

White Alligator Sleeping Lioness

Sea Lions Piranha

Oh brother!

So, I have been raving about my mother's beef stew to Manny for months...Yesterday, I decided to make it, homemade bread, and a blueberry cake for dessert. Well, the cake was fine, the bread came out well, and so did the beef stew - in the end. I burned it, and ended up having to cut the burnt parts off and start over again. But, in the end, I must say, it was every bit as good as Mama's...it just didn't yield as much with having to cut so much meat off.

Now, I hope I don't offend anyone's sensibilities with this short little story, but I think it's hilarious...I'm learning to laugh at myself in the kitchen - I kick butt at baking, but while I'm a good cook, I still mess up a lot and get really frustrated. Well, I had calmed down, and the "redone" stew was almost finished. I reached over the pot to turn off the oven (the bread was done) and what should I do, but unwittingly burn my left "girl" with steam seeping out between the lid and the rim of the stewing pot! So, I have a nice 1.5" blister there. FUN! I am such a klutz, but I guess all's well that ends well, eh?

(Hope you all got a chuckle out of that!)

My apologies

So, I had the time yesterday to post, but it was just kind of a "blue" day, so I didn't do it. I'm sorry. I will do my best to get the pictures up soon...I'm making Mama's Beef Stew (the food I would request as my last meal), Homemade Bread (hopefully it doesn't flop!), and Nanny's Blueberry Boy Bait. I LOVE IT WHEN I GET TO USE UP LEFTOVER STUFF I HAD (Blueberries in this case). I'm in the process of applying for a review of my certifications by the Texas Board...so...AND I have an interview on Monday. So, keep your fingers crossed everyone!

Love you! - Me

Zoooooo...

'Went to the zoo today...It was SOOOOO hot. I will be uploading photos soon (hopefully tomorrow) and I'll be telling you all about it, but honestly, the heat just wiped both Manny and I out, and we've pretty much been couch potatoes for the rest of the day.

Love you all!!!

Manny's words

He breaks my heart with the beauty of what he says sometimes.

"I love you desperately. It should truly be a sin to love you as much as I do."

And on the sweet side: "I'm so happy that you're such a good cook. And an ever better baker. You haven't made one thing that I haven't enjoyed!"

(You all know I sweat a lot of bullets over that.) That's all. Interviews tomorrow - pray, cross your fingers, complete any superstitious actions that aid in the passing of good luck to a person from whatever "Old Country" your family's from!!!

This is Weekend Update... :)

Well, as usual, Saturday was movie day/night. Manny unfortunately had to work, and he brought home Whataburger Chicken Tenders for lunch (I think they might be my favorite chicken tenders ever!), and after taking a nap, I did my hair and makeup, and we set off to watch SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD and, of course, THE EXPENDABLES. I liked Scott Pilgrim better, but The Expendables was still a good movie. Seeing Sly Stallone all Botoxed and Plasticked up was sad, though. He was such an ugly beautiful when he was younger. :*(

I got to choose where we went for dinner, and I picked the Golden Corral around the corner from our apartment. Golden Corral was one of my family's favorite places to stop when we were on the road...usually down to see aunt Sandy in North Carolina, and we always enjoyed the food, and that we were each able to get whatever we wanted. When we walked into the restaurant, I had to tell you, I was horrified by how dirty it seemed. I wasn't gonna say anything, but Manny told me he wouldn't come back just because he felt "dirty." Unfortunately, aside from the lack of cleanliness, the food wasn't up to par, either. But, I got to have lima beans - Manny hates them. So, it was worth it for that, but I wouldn't go back either - that makes me kind of sad, I was expecting a rush of nice memories from trips to North Carolina. No such luck. :(

Sunday morning, we woke up and I told Manny that I'd seen a little French cafe around the corner from us tucked away in a little strip mall. I suggested we go there for breakfast. Well...it was closed. Manny continued driving along the strip mall, and I saw a sign in a storefront called "Dawn's Donuts" that said "We have Kolaches." I asked him, "What's a Ko-losh?" Apparently they're pronounced "KO-LA-CHEE" and they're like little breakfast sausages stuck in a really fluffy buttery bun with cheese. We ended up eating our breakfast at "Dawn's" and it was so nice...we had just thrown on our clothes and were still rubbing sleep from our eyes. It was bright, but quiet, and we sat at a little corner table and ate our breakfast sandwiches and shared a yummy Apple Fritter. It was just a really nice laid-back morning, and we got to just enjoy the quiet and the sunshine, and people-watch a little bit.

In the afternoon, we watched The Thomas Crown Affair (the newer one), and looked for recipes online to make ribs and shrimp on the grill. (We got a new grill a few weeks ago,

and Manny likes to grill on the weekends.) We ended up running to the grocery store, and picking up some stuff for dinner and for the house. I tried a new cookie recipe...a molasses cookie recipe with cardamom, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, etc...it was good, but it tastes more like a Thanksgiving or Christmas cookie, so I'll save it for those holidays. I actually took some over

Molasses Cookies!!!

to the neighbors and the little boy (2 years old) walked over and thanked me

for the cookies. Manny and I made marinades for shrimp and ribs for grilling. It was delicious!!! That was our weekend. It was so nice, and relaxed...we just enjoyed spending time together.

My handsome grill chef ----------->

<-------- Hoot-N-Holler Ribs

&

Garlic & Herb Shrimp

We're so happy! (He's saying, "Woman, why are you laying on top of me and taking pictures!?")

Lots to write tomorrow - 'cross my heart!

Oh my gosh!

I HAVE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT FOR TWO WHOLE NIGHTS!!! I'm so happy (and rested)! I didn't write about it, but on Thursday night, I made Chicken Marsala (my mom's recipe) with buttered noodles. I was really intimidated because Manny's mom (Lucy) is an AMAZING cook, and apparently she makes a killer Chicken Marsala. However, MANNY LOVED IT! I even served it right off the stove in my apron and everything. He went back for seconds (usually he doesn't on a meal because he likes the leftovers for lunch the next day), and I was just SO pleased.

The headaches seem to be going away, but I think that they have something to do with congestion. I need to go and see an allergist, be retested (I was tested when I was like 13), and start getting shots. I'm hoping that the sniffles aren't because of Manny's cats. They're really sweet, and I don't want my allergies to force us to get rid of them!!! :(

'Went out last night with Justin and Sheri for Sheri's 30th birthday - it's not till the 18th, but she'll be really busy that day, so we did it last night. We went to Katz' Diner in Montrose (a neighborhood in Houston known for its very gay-friendly population and it's cool non-chain shops and boutiques) and had dinner. Then off to "Wild West" - a country dance club that was Sheri's request. Justin and Manny just rolled their eyes and gritted their teeth, but I thought it was a neat place. However, I'm the kind of girl who doesn't really want to dance unless I know the steps, or they're told to me, so... We were only there a little time, but when we got there, Sheri and I went to the bathroom. When we walked out of the stalls to wash our hands, there were some VERY loud, very Jersey Shore (the tv show) kind of girls getting ready to go back out to dance. I stopped them, speaking over their uproarious and whiny conversation, and pointed out that one of them had paper towel stuck to her boot. They thanked me, I said "You're welcome" and turned back to the sink. "She's so nice!" said one. "Smack her ass!" said the other, and promptly, my behind was given a resounding *SMACK*. As they walked out, I heard "She's got a nice ass!" Needless to say, the minute they left, Sheri and I cracked up, and once we reached the guys, they laughed, too. ONLY ME, I swear. Then, on to Dave and Buster's. I walked in, holding Manny's hand, and said, "Hey! It's like a Chuck-E-Cheese, but for grown-ups!" We played racing games, and basketball games, and all sorts of fun stuff, and got this aborable picture of ourselves made. If I can put it in a digital format, I'll put it on here, because it's completely candid and is probably my favorite picture of us together so far.

'Not much planned for today...searching for Manny's lost Kroger card, maybe IHOP for breakfast with the book I'm reading...and supposedly we're going to the movies this weekend - Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and of course, The Expendables. Well, Happy Weekend, everyone!

Love you all!

Well...

What can I say? We had spaghetti and bruschetta last night - I added oregano this time and it was even better than the previous amazing bruschettas! I also made blueberry cobbler and surprisingly, Manny loved it. He even (sheepishly) asked if he could have seconds! YAY!

On a different note, I haven't been sleeping well. I've been dealing with migraines and congestion a lot recently. I woke up every 15 minutes last night! After over a month of being here, I have to admit, I'm kind of blue. I would love nothing more than to hop in my car and pick up one of my girlfriends or watch a sappy movie with my mama. The days are so long waiting for Manny to get home.

Made Mama's meatloaf last night, and then went swimming in the complex's pool at aroun 9:30. SOOOOOO nice to swim in a lagoon-style pool under balmy skies and palm trees!

Hello, everyone! Sorry for the haitus! Unfortunately, I've been dealing with some rather incessant migraines. There's not much to tell...we had a really nice weekend - really laid-back. We went to the movies on Friday - to see "Despicable Me" and "The Other Guys". Both were really good...for different reasons. I laughed a lot. That night, we got to Carrabba's just as it was closing, and I treated Manny to dinner - it was SUPER YUMMY. Saturday, we didn't go out until late. I wore one of my pretty dresses and Manny looked handsome in black shoes, nice slacks, and a polo shirt. We went to the Heights - a neighborhood in Houston that is VERY EXPENSIVE. They have a celebration called "White Linen Night in the Heights." Apparently, in New Orleans, to escape the heat and to celebrate music and art, there would be an exposition at night and everyone would come out to support their local artisans and businesses, and wear white linen to stay cool. We walked through an antique shop. Bless his heart! Then, we went to a place called the Grand Luxe Cafe by the Galleria (the GINORMOUS mall)...I had fish and chips, and Manny had Chicken Madiera. It was a lovely place - really groovy architecture.

Sunday, however, I didn't feel good at all. I had the kind of migraine that makes you sick. He took care of me. Held my hair back when I thought I was going to be sick, and brushed my hair away from my face while I tried to sleep and ignore the throbbing in my head. Such a good man. I did get him to watch an old movie, though. Murder By Death with Peter Falk - he liked it!

No obvious headache today...going to the post office to send some things off...found a lot of things that belonged to our family when we moved! That's pretty much it! Not much else to tell. Manny works till 4.

Some random thoughts and a recap

I decided to post today for tomorrow. Not much to tell. I had an awful migraine all day. My Excedrin didn't help at all. I even tried to sleep it off, but it didn't help at all. I ended up lying on the sofa until Manny came home from lunch...well even longer...until about 5:15. I did end up making Snickerdoodles when Manny got home, though. He changed into his comfy clothes, walked into the kitchen and automatically got this HUGE smile on his face. "YAAAY! You're making SUGARDOODLES!?" Then, after a bit, Manny offered to cook dinner for us - however, he'd never had or much less made Manwich. It was such an ordeal for him..."Are we shredding this meat or are we leaving it whole? Should I use a spoon or a spatula for this? Do you think I could put Adobo in this? Maybe I should use some olive oil? Do I need to wait 'till it's almost done to put the Manwich in?" He's adorable. But, he did put Adobo in it, and it was the BEST Manwich I ever had. AND we had corn on the cob with lime. YUM!

Now for some randomness:

My favorite Manny quote of the day: "I love you. I don't want to find out what my life is like without you." (I feel the very same way about him!)

Strange Texas fact: They don't call it "Rump Roast" here - they call it "Pork Butt" - yes, in advertisements, too.

PLANS FOR TOMORROW: Take out the bag of cat poo. FUN!

Might be going to Kemah for the laser show/concert tomorrow, and movies on the weekend!

'Made something called Italian Chicken Pasta. I wan't sure how it would turn out, but the man of the house went CRAZY over it. I honestly didn't like it too much, but I think a lot of that had to do with how much fresh parsley I was supposed to put in it...it overwhelmed the other flavors. So, I wrote the recipe down, but tweaked the portions so it will be even better. I made bruschetta again, but this time I topped it with mozzarella and baked it - We both decided we like it better that way. Next time I make it we're going to add oregano and see if we like it even better. Manny even poured some of my favorite wine - it is inexpensive to begin with, and was on sale at the grocery store. (Beringer Moscato - YUM! Cheers, Daddy, for the love of wine. Would've loved to share a glass with you.)

I think I'm going to surprise Manny with Snickerdoodles today. I woke up with a migraine that is pulsing in my head, so I will take a shower and see if any of it has to do with shoulder muscles...Depending on how I feel, I'll make them. TONIGHT we're having Manwich and Corn on the cob - I know I said that was last night, but Italian sounded better. If the headache doesn't get better, I might ask Manny to order out. Sometimes the medicine doesn't help. My stomach's upset, too. :( Put my resume on Monster.com yesterday. We just keep praying that something is going to come along. There was a job on there for a legal secretary who speaks Castilian Spanish. Unfortunately, they want 5+ years experience in international law. So, we'll see. If worse comes to worse, I'll apply to Chase as a full-time teller. But, we'll turn out all right.

Dinner and a Fight

Well, dinner went marvelously well. However, we had our first fight. It was over something stupid that had to do with dinner, but it had more to do with a difference in the way people "entertain" down here than we do up north. I mean, when people get there (if they're not family) dinner should be in your hands hovering over the table. Apparently, that's not how it goes here in Texas. Manny called me at about 5:30 and told me that Justin would be at our house any minute, because he wasn't going to go home from work - just straight here. Well, like most women (I think), I had planned out the day...I was going to clean and put dinner in the oven and while that was cooking, I was going to take my shower. So, I hung up the phone, ran through the shower and ran around trying to get things done out of the order I had originally planned them in. I CHANGED MY SHIRT THREE TIMES BECAUSE I WAS SWEATING SO MUCH! Oh, and did I mention that Justin never showed!? When Manny walked in, I was fuming. I had 20 minutes to make the pie, and he hadn't bought enough chicken, so we had to use frozen chicken...it was maddening. When he walked in, he goes "You look beautiful!" (I had gotten my hair done.) I said, "Hi." I essentially reamed him out, and once I had calmed down, I apologized for "lashing out unfairly". He goes, "YEAH, THANKS." So, his sarcasm just rubbed it in more, and he made me feel awful. I cried, he apologized, and we moved on. Justin and Sheri came and...they brought the BABY! YAAAAY! :) (She's adorable!) Dinner was ready about 20 minutes after they arrived, and we sat down. They loved the food, and despite our argument, Manny was proud and pleased about the dinner.

I made Mama's Parmesan Chicken, Garlic Redskin Mashed potatoes, and succotash (Sheri's favorite). AND I made homemade apple pie. I got to use our special cakeserver for the first time, too. It's an antique and it says "Manny & Lydia" on it. Manny showed it off. (I thought he didn't like it - too girly. But he seemed kinda proud of it.) So, dinner was a huge success, but by the time they left after playing a game, we just kind of organized the dirty dishes and hit the hay. I still have a lovely mountain in my sink. So, I've gotta go clean them. Manwich and Corn on the Cob tonight.

Oh, and my hair turned out really nice! Re-hilighted and everything! THANK GOD! It was looking so scraggly!

It's gonna be a late posting today, because I'm busy getting the apartment ready for our first "couples" dinner - we invited Justin and Sheri over for dinner and a couple rounds of SceneIt! I'm excited and nervous all at the same time! I mean, maybe it's incredibly old-fashioned of me, but how I pull this off (food-wise) reflects on Manny to his friends. I want very much to not only be the woman he's in love with, but also to be a credit to him. So, cross your fingers! MUST FINISH CLEANING!!! AAAAAAAAARGH!!!!

Fun day

114 DEGREES IN HOUSTON - 'NUFF SAID!

Houston Saturday Night!

Well, like I mentioned (I think), we found out that Manny was going to have to work on Saturday. We had plans to go out to the Museum District originally, and we didn't think we would get to go. I slept late yesterday - and then got up just in time to get a couple things done. Manny walked in the door around 12:30, and went straight into the bedroom and came out with comfy clothes on - HE WAS DONE FOR THE DAY! So, we played a video game together, and then after a bit, we got ready to go out. I fussed - I did my eyes up, did my nails, ------>

and wore pretty jewelry and just felt really...beautiful. We went to Niko Niko's in Montrose (GREEK FOOD!!!!) So, we were going to go to a laser show/concert at the Planetarium at the Museum of Natural Science, but when we walked in the door, the night guard said that they were closed! Manny was pretty bummed, b

ut then we went off walking - we climbed a hill and watched a little bit of the open-air Shakespeare Festival (Much Ado About Nothing), and then we walked around the park - sat on a park bench near a fountain, and just enjoyed the sound of the water. To top the night off, when we got close to home, Manny stopped at Marble Slab - it's like a Cold Stone Creamery, but I must say that the ice cream is better! Manny had Sweet Cream ice cream with Reese's Cups and Chocolate Chips. I had Mango with Fresh Strawberries - YUM!

We got some really nice pictures - so I thought I would post some of them here! (Did I mention that we ran across 4 lanes of traffic in a roundabout just to take pictures by a fountain!?)

Kind of a BLAH day yesterday. Manny wasn't feeling too good yesterday, and when he got home, he still wasn't feeling too hot. We ended up going out - hopping on the highway, and picking an exit. We went to a restaurant that we hadn't ever been to. It was called ZIO's Italian Grille. It was SUCH a neat place! It has an old kind of "warehouse" feeling with aging yellow walls, and pots and pans and garlic hanging everywhere. Manny had baked ziti and I had chicken vodka! I finally tried a Bellini, too - it's frozen peach nectar, champagne, and white wine in a really tall skinny glass - it was DELICIOUS. Then we drove around for a while - just looking around, listening to music and talking. When we got home, we cleaned out the cat box, and then hit the hay early.

Today, after work, we're going to the Planetarium - I'm so excited!

So, I went to the movies yesterday. The Sorceror's Apprentice, really wasn't as great as I thought it would be, but it was a distraction, thank the Lord! Then, I found out that there is a Michael's just around the corner, so I went and got a papercutter and some plain paper for scrapbooking. On my way back to the apartment, Justin called and said that he had a horrible day, and that if it was cool with me, he was gonna come by to hang out. So, Justin came over and we talked and watched TV until Manny came home. While the two of them watched Top Gear on BBC, I started scrapbooking. I really enjoyed doing that again!

Manny and I had plans for Saturday because his manager had given him the day off, but we found out that he was going to have to work for a couple hours in the morning. Then we found out this morning that he was asked to work at another branch and we couldn't do anything on Saturday.

So, he told me to go online and figure out what will be going on this weekend in Houston. So, off I go to plan a weekend! Yay!

Yesterday was truly just a lovely day...Going to see the Sorceror's Apprentice today after Manny leaves for work...tired of laundry and tidying up already-tidy things!

Early Anniversary Dinner

Well, last night I was feeling culinarily (no, I don't really think that's a word) adventurous. So, I told Manny that we would have an Italian Night. He didn't know I was going to go all out to make it special. He had been home for a very late lunch (2pm) and had told me that he wouldn't want dinner until about 8. So, I went to the grocery and liquor store - the dessert I was making required Marsala wine, and when I got home, I started right in on the Zabaglione - an Italian egg custard with strawberries. However, I started at 4:30 and after making a complete MESS of the kitchen and the zabaglione (I needed a double boiler, but had tried to fudge it with a pot and a bowl), I cleaned up at 6, threw the zabaglione in the freezer (where it doesn't belong) and chopped the tomatoes, basil, and garlic for the bruschetta. Well, everything was back in its proper place and clean by the time Manny got home, so he had no idea that the kitchen had been the summation of WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam all together!So, once he got home, I snuck into the closet, got out the brass candlesticks Uncle Rick had given me when I moved, and the green and gold silky fabric Daddy brought back from Morocco, and set the table (after I had relegated Manny to the bedroom). It looked like this:

We're pretty low on serving dishes here. Actually, we have none, so I did my best to set a pretty table with what I had. The dishes that Lucy gave us really matched perfectly with the green "tablecloth", and a pie plate

and a candy dish did the rest. I folded paper towels like I used to when I worked at the Green Olive, and I didn't have taper candles, so I put tiny little glass votives on top of the candlesticks. I gotta say, I was impressed with myself! I turned on my "Mediterranean Nights" CD on my computer, and led him out into the living room eyes closed. When he opened his eyes, he just said "Wow, sweetie! This is so nice!" We sat down and looked at each other and our apartment in the candlelight, and he said, "We've got a really nice place. We really do. Thank you for this. I've never had anyone make me a meal this nice." I told him that it was an early 10-month anniversary dinner. It looked like this:

It was so nice to sit down at OUR table for the first time in OUR apartment and have a really nice dinner. The zabaglione LOOKED and TASTED nice, but I forgot to take a picture because I considered it a flop since it wasn't the right consistency.

OH! And Manny found me a video game I'm good at - it's a racing game. YAY!

Oh, yeah...

I forgot to mention that tomorrow, we'll have been together for 10 months!

Salvation Army...

So, under the direction of Aunt Toni, I set out to various thrift stores around Houston to look for kitchen needs - wire cooling racks, proper measuring cups and spoons, a bundt pan, a good frying pan, etc...I actually found a set of 3 cooling racks for $3.00 at the Salvation Army, and I got a Bundt Pan and measuring cups for 99 cents each!

Then, I went to Big Lots - I could've gotten into some real trouble there - I was walking around the kitchen section and I found - CORNINGWARE FRENCH WHITE BAKING/CASSEROLE DISHES FOR $59.99! But, I called my mom and asked her what she thought of the price (not that we have that to spend right now, but to write down for when we do have the money in case they still have it). She suggested I just buy the pieces seperately - get the pieces I want, and I see the reasoning in it. In the set, I would have gotten like 4 little souffle dishes, and I don't need those. God knows after watching "Sabrina" (the old one with Audrey Hepburn, I'm terrified of souffles! (I still remember the nasty little French chef in the movie leaning over and up on his tippy-toes to peer into Audrey's souffle dish, and then when he couldn't find a souffle, he just kinda cut his eyes at her like, "Why are ju in ma class, ju seely leetle Amuricen!?") But, I did get a frying pan, measuring cups, some dish towels, and some other stuff for the house - like laundry detergent, etc.

So, it was not a wasted journey. Manny actually beat me home, but while he was on the computer in the bedroom, I made his favorite food - Arroz con Salchichas y Maiz (Rice with Vienna Sausage and Corn). Making anything that a man's mama makes is ALWAYS nerve-wracking, but he said that it came out great (I don't really like it, so I had Disney Princess Spaghetti-O's.), so YAY!

I think the next thing we're going to have to talk about is sharing rights to the TV. Every night, we watch his shows, or things he wants to watch. There may be nothing on, but he'll flick through the channels and find something. Not that I don't enjoy his shows, but I think there should be some sharing in there. He said we'd watch one of my movies on Saturday night (past), and he laid down and fell asleep within 20 minutes of it starting - he didn't even try to watch it! I, who am a big chicken and who doesn't enjoy movies with senseless violence, watched The Crazies with him - at night - in the dark! I think that merits some feigned interest in what I like, don't you!? Well, we'll have to talk about that later.

Love you all!

Lydia

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY! (Manny's mom!) Love you bunches!

FINALLY!

Well, we finally cleaned up the apartment! The house doesn't have any boxes sitting around, the pictures are all hung up, and I feel like I can sort of breathe better. I tried making up a recipe for porkchops (Aunt Toni helped me). I made them with rosemary and garlic and then breaded them. I don't know what's wrong with Manny's pans, but EVERYTHING STICKS! It drives both of us crazy. But, either way, it turned out pretty well, and I've brainstormed how to improve it! Manny liked it a lot, so. YAY!

I wanted to post some of the sunset pictures from outside the apartment and from Outriggers the other night for your enjoyment. Well, ENJOY!

WHY AM I SUCH A KLUTZ SINCE I MET HIM!?

So, when Manny got out of work he was really tired. I was all ready to cook dinner, and just chill out...what we've been doing pretty much since I moved here. But, he's had a really long and difficult week and he said, "Let's just go somewhere." One of his last customers of the day was a woman who just lost her husband of many years to lung cancer last month. She looked at Manny and just said "I miss my best friend...I miss my husband." If he hadn't already been tired, he would have been exhausted emotionally by her. He came home and told me about it and almost cried.

So, we got into the car and drove down to the Gulf (only about 30 minutes away from us) in Kemah and Seabrook. While we were down there, Manny said, "Honey, would you like to have seafood for dinner?" It ended up that we went on an "adventure" and ate at this little out of the way place under the bridge into Kemah called "Outriggers." The food was delicious...we had grilled shrimp in garlic butter, and dirty cajun rice, and steamed vegetables. I even had a Margarita! (It was delicious!) I thanked him again and again, and he said, "Sweetie, we both needed to get out. No...YOU needed to get out." He's so thoughtful.

That night, once we got home, he just looked at me, held my face in his hands, and said "You're so beautiful. I love you. "

In the meantime, however, when we were leaving the apartment complex, we got the mail. I opened the big iron-cast door, and slammed the unusually extended hasp into my mouth. I was never a klutz till I met him. It swelled, but fortunately, because of my full lips, it didn't really show, but it looks like I've got a nice bloodblister now. AAAAAAAAARGH! I was gonna put a picture of it up, but it's too yucky. Manny's afraid people will think he beats me!

Not too much to report - - -

So, I honestly don't have much to report...nothing really happening around here...doing laundry...putting things away...that's about it. I'm sorting through "junk boxes", and making sure I put things where they belong. I vacuumed this morning, I'm cooking Chicken with Cashew nuts tonight - hope it turns out good!

I'm starting to miss Manny when he's at work...but then, when I've really got nothing to do, of course my mind strays to him, so I read, or write letters...That's really all I have to say.

DATE NIGHT ON SATURDAY!!!

Weeeeellll...

Well, it is another pretty day here in Houston. The sun is shining, and though I've not stepped a toe outside my door, I'm sure it's steamy! Manny didn't go in 'till late this morning, so we watched the end of Psych - a show we started to watch last night but were too tired to finish. :) (We're such old people!)

We played about 8 rounds of Uno last night...he beat me fair and square the first 3 times, but then I beat him three times in a row. "Can you please keep your cards where I can see them? It's unsettling because the next thing I know, you've got one card, you've made me pick up 4 and you win!!!" (He's very competitive, so of course, I rubbed my wins in his face.)

There are still a lot of boxes here and I really hope that I can get him to go through a few of them this week. The thing is that we put a lot of our "sometimes used" stuff out on the patio, and once we finished bringing everything over, we realized that some of the stuff in the patio closet belongs somewhere else. The thing is that I can't really do much about that because most of the stuff in the patio closet and sitting around the house that needs to get put away is his. So...we'll see. But, I'll be honest. The boxes are starting to drive me nuts. I mean, I stay at home and now, do nothing, really, because I can't tidy up without his executive decision! So, that's that. I think I'm gonna go to the office and drop off the check for the water bill in a few. I'm also gonna run down to the Walgreen's. I need some things.

Not much to say today. I hope that we get to put some of this stuff away! Or at least, that Manny hangs some pictures! We'll see. I can't post pictures of the new place unless we put stuff away and things look nice!!!

Fasten your seatbelts, it's gonna be a long one! :)

So, yes, it has been 6 days since I last wrote on this blog, but at least, I did not let a WEEK go by! The last thing I wrote was that we signed the lease early, and a good thing it was, too! We needed that extra day to move! Manny and I both hurt physically from all the strain and the rush...

I suppose I'll start my story on Thursday...I know that I carried some things over to the new apartment, but for the life of me, I don't remember what they were. When Manny got home, he helped me carry kitchen stuff (pots, pans, etc...over) and bless his heart, even though he didn't want to and it meant he had to go searching for a hammer and a nail (he only has a rubber mallet) he hung up our first picture:

So, Friday we still carried more stuff over...still don't remember what it was...we did carry the TV over...we were ATTACKED by mosquitoes, and Manny ended up straining his elbow, but he was all right in a couple of days.

Saturday morning dawned a little too early for me, but the movers arrived at around 9:30. Manny got back with breakfast and the men, Mark and Chuck, had already started moving stuff out of the bedroom. The apartment looked a mess before they came, but they were really awesome guys. For being such skinny men, they surely got that stuff out of the old apartment and into the new one as fast as all get out! It took them three hours to get almost everything into the new apartment...the only things they didn't get were the bedroom closet (SOOOOO many clothes) and the stuff on the patio. The Comcast lady came that same day and I got quite a few boxes unpacked before Manny got home. That night I was still unpacking at 11:30! Everything seems to fit really nicely in the apartment - I will post those pictures soon.

On Sunday morning, we went right over to the old apartment and started cleaning - we went out and bought a new vacuum with a BIG DISCOUNT - YAAAAAY! (It's a DYSON!) We emptied the closets and the kitchen - almost everything...and rented a Rug Doctor to clean the carpet. I was totally exhausted half-way through the day, but I kept going - Manny, bless his heart, came out and pulled my head down onto his shoulder and said, "Breathe, Baby. I know you're tired. I know you just want to be done with this, but we can do it. We're a team, and we're gonna get this done." He made himself crazy carrying things down three flights

of stairs, across a complex and up another flight of stairs just so that there wouldn't be much for me to do the next day. We were both exhausted. That night, we went out and bought some things for the house...mainly a new bathroom set - trash can, bath mat, shower curtain and liner, etc. It's really pretty! Cream colored with a pretty design and woven into the fabric, and a pretty ribbon sewn around the edges - it's navy and it reminds me of Morocco! YAY! Manny was so tired, and so was I, but he went out anyway. "What Baby wants, Baby gets," he said as we drove home. I wanted to hang up the clothes that we had brought over, but Manny said, "It's my only day off. Just sit on the sofa and watch TV with me." So, I did.

Finally, on Monday, I finished cleaning the old apartment and turned in the keys! We were finally home. That night, Manny bought us Red Lobster to celebrate. Here's the sweaty, but very happily moved couple:

WHY IS HE SO CUTE WHEN HE'S SWEATY AND TIRED!?!?!?

Yesterday, Tuesday, I went to the grocery store and got stuff to kind of "stock up" the pantry. It's starting to feel more like home all the time...pictures are being hung, and the pantries are stocked - like a home - not a bachelor pad.

So, I think that's the complete recounting of what's been going on. (In an extreme nutshell, of course. So, that's that.)

More tomorrow? :) Love, y'all!

NEW POST COMING, I PROMISE! LIFE HAS BEEN INSANE - 4 DAYS OF MOVING!

Pens and Keys

If I could make little singing signs, I'd put them here cuz: Weeeeee're signing the lease todaaaaaaay, and we're geeetting the keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeys!

I slept horribly last night...I must have pulled a muscle in my leg because it was throbbing all night and kept waking me up...I finally took a hot bath and took some ibuprofen at around 6:30, and then when Manny woke up, said goodbye to him and followed his directions to go back to sleep. At 10:30, though, I got a call from Manny telling me that he got the go-ahead from the leasing office for us to sign and start moving today. I'm so utterly excited! Even if I only get to put some pictures out, or unpack some things for the kitchen, I'll be pleased. Manny said that I shouldn't move a lot of stuff because it's very hot out already. "But Manny," I said. "But Lydia," he interrupted, " You don't wanna die, do you, Lydia? I don't want you to die." So we'll put a little in the apartment tonight...just to save ourselves from heatstroke!

So, our wishes came true. It's going to be a lovely, laid-back move. And it's our first new home. I even know exactly what I'm making for dinner our first night there (Saturday). Mama's beef stew - it's my favorite food that she makes...and yes, it is a splurge, but gollee, it's so delicious, I think it's the perfect "celebration dinner" for our new place.

I'M SO EXCITED!

A Chilling Day

Didn't do all that much today...I'm trying to get through a day without turning on the air. I'm hoping that I will be okay with just the fan. So far, so good!

I just packed up Manny's gaming shelf...all of his Xbox and Playstation games and DVDs. It took 2 boxes and a tote bag...We're gonna try to close on Thursday so that I can spend that day moving little things in and getting things kind of set up...you know, the kitchen...hanging pictures, putting stuff in the closet. That way we'd have very little left to do on the weekend. I really hope that works out...It would give me stuff to do tomorrow...I could put pictures out...books on our BUILT-IN BOOKSHELVES!!! (Can you tell I'm excited about them?) I might even get shelf paper! I could just unpack so many boxes...that would be such a relief!

I'm trying to eliminate stuff even more than I have up till now...I took 2 boxes to the Goodwill yesterday. I'm sure there's more that I'll be getting rid of over time, but for right now, we're doing good. I think that's all for today. Nothing big in the immediate future!

Keep your fingers crossed for a Thursday closing!

With glitter in his hair

Yes....glitter in his hair...Manny took the "finishing touch" classes for his licensing for his job today and when he got home (to a very sweaty and huffy-puffy me - I had been carrying trash from the patio down three flights of stairs and across a parking lot and back up three flights of stairs many times) he had glitter in his hair. Apparently that was their "celebration" for the licencees...throw glitter on their head. I told him he looked foxy. Tee hee!

Last night I got a call from Sheri inviting me out to lunch today. I drove to their house (about 15 minutes away) and got to hold a very cranky Violet while her mommy made a bottle. Then we got in the car and headed out for lunch. Sheri, who admitted that she's not a coupon-clipper, took me to a place called Las Rosas - a really beautiful Tex-Mex place not far from where they live (and she had a coupon for it so we only paid for one meal!). It was delightful - the food was great, the restaurant was lovely...and I had a really nice time getting to know her. My first girlfriend in Texas!

On the other hand, I have been cahooting with Justin to try and figure out what would be an AWESOME birthday idea for Manny this year - he's turning 30, so it should be a big deal. I got an AMAZING present for him...but I won't tell you what it is, either - not until it's closer!

Thought I was gonna spill the beans, didn't you? Tee hee!

I have him packing up the tv stand and his desk right now. However, considering that he has lived here for 2 years and I DOUBT he's ever performed Spring Cleaning, I am sitting in the living room so as to distance myself from the extreme amounts of dust!

That's that. More tomorrow!

Look! It's the GLITTER MAN!!! ---------------->

(Don't look for the glitter, it's not there!)