Quite the beachy weekend (aka Ring-a-ding-ding)

King Neptune. No really.

Turg and I took a lovely (and far too short) mini-vacay to Virgina Beach over the weekend. It was a weekend planned, very clearly, to NOT include laptops, Crackberries, or any other technology other than our cell phones, music and reading material (i.e., books and mindless magazines). The plans for the weekend included no plans, no scheduling save for dinner reservations at a beautiful restaurant on the oceanfront. (quick backstory on this restaurant - the only other time we'd ever been there was after I ran the 1/2 marathon, and I fell asleep at the dinner table, so we knew returning to this restaurant was a must)

We spent all of Saturday walking on the beach. And walking and walking some more. It was great. After walking for what seemed like hours, we headed back to the hotel room to relax, and get ready for dinner. I love Salacia. The outdoor veranda seating is beautiful, on the ocean, gas-light lit, benches with pillows (actual pillows, not just throw pillows), and if you get cold (like I did), they bring you a really soft blanket.

After a dinner with champagne (seriously, Turg suggested champagne because he's "on new acid medication, and red wine would be too much" Sheez), wonderful steak and lamb (yes, I ordered lamb again, and this time I didn't fall asleep), we were just sitting chit chatting when:

Turg (in a tone one would use to say "pass the salt"): Will you marry me?
Me (not having really heard him): What? Say that again?
T (more seriously): Will you marry me?
Me (because I'm a bitch): Not without a ring.
T (raises eyebrow): Why?
Me (getting nerdy): It's like in Babylon5*, when Sheridan asks Dele'en to marry him, he said, "On Earth, we have a tradition where we give a ring, as kind of a down payment for another ring. The kind that you get when you get married."
T: *raises eyebrow*
Me: That's what you get for making me watch Babylon5
T: No, I'm just amazed you remember the quote better than I am right now. But, okay... *produces ring*

This was the point where I got all giggly and girly (he thought I was going to cry). Of course I said yes. So after about a bazillion years together**, we are getting married!!

The Ring (this was the day after the proposal)

Turg was taking a little risk about asking me at the beginning of the weekend because, while there was much assurance that I was going to say 'yes,' you know, there's always a chance of not. Then the rest of the weekend would have really been awkward. But it wasn't. The rest of the weekend was as perfect as the proposal.

* Turg was actually the one who got me into watching Babylon5. Bet he's sooo glad he did that now.
** Before anybody starts in on "it's about time he asked you," let me make clear that I was the holdout, not him. So if you're going to get on anyone's case, that would be me.

"No man is complete until he's married. Then, he is finished." - Foxtrot Yankee (very good friend of Turg's)

"Congratulations, and may all of your ups and downs be between the sheets." - random guy who overheard us talking over breakfast

Oh Baby!

A weekend with babies!

No, seriously Ang. Show me some love. Drop some apples down here... he won't mind... he's not even looking at you...

Super Dads! I think I can see a bit of a resemblance between the Little Man and Jay, no?

JP, Cin, and the Peanut

Aunt and Great-Aunt... at the SAME TIME!

Parallel parking - baby style

The Peanut and Mommy... and The Little Man's feet too

Apparently, the Little Man is already learning to smile at the ladies

Mmmm, tasty fingers... must be leftover apples...

It is so wonderful watching my family grow. I count myself lucky to have such a wonderful and loving family.

Pig races. PIG. RACES. Seriously.

I had so much fun this weekend. It's sometimes amazing how simple it can actually be. Beautiful weather. A fun activity. Good company. HB, aka Thor's first girlfriend, came down for a visit prior to embarking on the journey called "college." And, in honor of her visit, we went to the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. Having never been to a county fair before, I had no idea what to expect. Mind you, having grown up in NYC, I spent the summers going to fairs - but these were street fairs, where the only live animals I saw were the goldfish to be won or horses with police men atop.

The three of us, me, Turg and HB, wandered, ate all sorts of bad food (oh, but it was oh, so, good), visited farm animals, rode carnival rides and brought farm fresh fruits and veggies. By far, though, the highlights of the day were the bumper cars and the pig races. That's right. I. Said. Pig races. But I'll get back to that.

We were riding the ferris wheel. Really a gondola wheel, they don't actually have ferris wheels anymore, do they, what with all the people falling off of them... - sorry, got distracted there. Anyway, we were on the big round rotating thing when we looked down and saw a tent with bumper cars. I had not done bumper cars since I was really little, and all three of us pretty much lit up at the thought. And it was fun. Some observations about bumper cars: 1) It is much more fun when the group is mostly adults. The reason is because adults seem to be able to control the cars better, and there are fewer pile ups (which I got caught in with a bunch of kids). 2) Five minutes is not NEARLY long enough. At the end of the second session we did, I literally thought I could do that all day. 3) Turg's maniacal face that he makes when readying himself to ram someone scares little children.

Back to the pig races. During the pig races, they not only raced regular farm pigs, but also billy goats, ducks and Vietnamese pot bellied piglets. Our favorite races of the day were definitely the goats and the pot bellied piglets. For the goats, because the goats are like children with ADD. While racing around, about a 1/4 way around the track, one of the goats sees a teddy bear sitting on the ground, stops running and is all like: Oh, look at the teddy bear. Isn't it cute... *looks around* Where'd everyone go? Oh, I'm supposed to be running. Wait for me... Oh, look at the kid.

The pot bellied piglets were just soooo terribly cute, what with the really short legs and bellies dragging on the ground, they really kick up crap while they're running. But the best part was after the race ended, one of the piggies came back out and was all: HI! Hi there! Look at me! I'm totally cute! a la Mini Chewbaca. The handler literally had to pick him up to stop his showboating.

The day ended with a trip to the crabhouse for dinner, then Cold Stone Creamery for dessert. I could not have asked for a more perfect day.

And so it goes... all glitter and sparkles

Of course, immediately after I decide that I needed to reclaim my stock of jewelry from the boutique, a piece is sold. I wish I could show you which piece, but it's one I have not yet photographed... AND, some earrings were sold a couple of months ago that she forgot about. So not only did I pick up jewelry, but I got a fair check too.

There is a little of the "taking my toys and going home" (as Magenta says) going on. But I need to take a step back and reconsider some things... like price point, design sensibility, etc etc... I'll likely sell some of the earlier pieces on etsy - once I get my profile set up, that is. Damn, so much to do.

I'm not done with this yet by a long shot.

Out of the mouths of babes, 2

I love all of the kids in my life. They're all so much fun and intelligent and, of course, say the darnedest things... Friday night, hanging at Crazy and SweetPea's house after dinner. SweetPea's Son (D - 16 yo) and Daughter (K - 14 yo), and Trouble playing Guitar Hero on Wii. Before I leave, D decides he needs to show off for me, to very little success. K and Trouble, in the mean time get bored and get out the laptop. K begins to dance to a video she's watching. The following conversation ensues:

D (stops in the middle of a GH riff): K, why are you dancing so provocatively?
K (giggling): If you saw what I was watching... this is sooo funny.
D (in the most serious tone I've ever heard from him - the kid is rarely serious): I really don't think that's appropriate.

It was at this point that I start hysterically laughing. Neither D nor K, nor even Trouble know what the heck is so funny. And I, of course, refuse to tell them.


On a completely different note, but because it's funny too - categorize this under "Adults say the darnedest things." At dim sum with friends - 4LL is swatting away the hand of her son (M), reaching for the sugar to put in his tea...

4LL: Why do you want the sugar?
M: I want to put it in my tea.
4LL: We DON'T put sugar in our tea.
M (in whiny kid voice): Whhhyyyyyy?
4LL (very sternly): Because we're CHINESE!

It just never stops, does it?