Happy Belated Birthday AJ

Today we went supposed to go to dinner at El Centro for AJ's birthday. Since there was a long wait and we couldn't get a reservation, we ended up walking down the street to Matchbox. This was a win because 1. I had never had this before and 2. It had lamb on the menu 3. was actually good and had a crapton of beers on tap (also reasonable prices!). I didn't take pictures of things but I did get these shots: 

first one was blurry so

I made him re-enact. lol

After dinner, we walked over to the Gibson. This was a pretty neat place. On the outside it's just an unmarked door which opens up to a very narrow walkway/stairway. Off the walkway there is another umarked door which opens up to a pretty neat/nicely decorated bar. Past the narrow space that was the indoor bar was an outdoor area which was a rlly tastefully decorated patio. Their menu consists of top shelf quality drinks which can be ordered by the glass or carafe. We had some special of the day which was something fruity and gin. I got to try Alex's drink which was whiskey and some other things that was very tastey. 

Also, noteworthy was something we discovered near our parking spot. Somewhere called the Drafting Table. Their sign indicates that they have a lengthy bottomless mimosa situation 10am-4pm for just 12.00! Their menu also looks good (something that stuck out to me was a duck ragout!). In 10 Sundays when we have a free Sunday again, I'd really like to go there. 

Life is Back to Normal!

Today felt like the most normal day I've had in over a month. I haven't cooked a meal since before the engagement! Well actually I guess I cooked the Thursday before but that wasn't just for me and sketchy and stress-free. Tonight I made a variation of a pinterest meal I found -- "crockpot creamy spinach chicken." It came out pretty good -- I feel like it was just spinach dip with chicken in it. 

cream of chicken, chicken broth, cream cheese, spinach, onions, green peppers, scallions and chicken

I have some random pictures that were on the camera that I didn't blog about on time. I attempted to plant things to transfer to the yard (I thought the yard would be ready for a garden by now -- fail.) 

Everything was going well, within a week and a half the plants were growing. The beans were EXTREMELY tall and started to wilt because they did not have a fence on which to grow. They started to sprout and need attention right around engagement weekend. I totally neglected the plants and they all got moldy and died. Sadtown. I do have lots of seeds left (i used 1/4-1/2 of each bag of seeds) so i could do a take two. I really do want to grow vegetables in a garden in the yard! It's on my life list. 

Speaking of life list, I took a look at the list recently and got to check off a few things! 

These five got checked off:

watch brenna graduate law school
get into law school
have an herb garden (brenna's gift)
visit kate in michigan
be a bridesmaid or MOH!

I feel like these next items will be checked off in the next 6 months (quite a few!):

get married (January)
have a picnic by the poto (sometime this summer or fall?)
have a fondue party (sketchy's bachelor party wkend in July)
make a firepit in my backyard (hopefully by next month)
finish my cliff 4 seasons idea (just need fall)
go to great falls, VA (sometime this summer?)
see the jags have a winning record** lolz (Jan)
get NFL sunday ticket (august)
visit yosemite (august trip)
seattle/portland/san fran road trip (august trip)
wine tasting in napa valley (august trip)
go see something on broadway (next couple weeks)
receive at least 25 christmas cards in one year (obviously Christmas -- EVERYONE SEND ME CARDS!)


I also keep adding things to the list so maybe I'll never be done with the list.

In other news, Sketchy finally mowed our lawn which was looking pretty bad -- think we're both finally feeling better. Hopefully we'll start getting some yard work going again next week. I'd really love to finish the yard. The half-ass-ness of it is really getting to me! 

After dinner we went for a walk around the block. Lucy loved it. She was super excited the whole time and then passed the hell out when we got back. She actually passed out on her side on the wood floor in the office while I was doing some things. She never sleeps on the wood floor! Think we'll do more walks because it's good for all of us in life. The weather was pretty nice out today.

actually, think the walk got to both of them! ptfo.

Also, in the world of normalcy, we have life plans again! I'm so excited to see and hang out with people. I feel like it's been ages (it actually almost has). I haven't really had a drink in over three weeks which means I have not hung out or seen people in that long! 

Tomorrow we're doing a make-up dinner for AJ's birthday. El Centro is always a crowd pleaser. Friday we're going to a national's game. We've been missing those lately so I'm happy to be going to one again! Saturday we're doing food and wine festival in old town, followed by some day drinking and bbq at Diana's place and then the kickball end of season party in DC -- free beer til midnight! 

Sunday we should be able to relax, cook and get some yard work done! 

Also since we're getting better we should be able to finally go see Simaya soon! She's so fricking cute in her pictures! 

Season Premiere of Franklin and Bash tonight! In the fall Wednesday nights are usually busy TV nights (criminal minds and SVU). This summer it looks like Thurs is going to be the busy night -- Hero, Burn Notice and Graceland! 

I seriously can't explain how happy I am to be doing normal things and eating real food again. 

The Heat Screening

Tonight we went to see a free screening of The Heat with Diana. It was much funnier than I expected. I thought it would be one of those movies that showed all the best/funniest parts in the previews. The scenes in the movie were actually slightly different than those in the previews -- which I thought was amazing. The movie was funny throughout. Definitely a movie I'd watch again. 

Sketchy and I stayed and watched The Hangover 3 afterwards. Three was definitely better than 2 in my opinion. But the original is still the best. 

We also had Firehouse Subs for dinner -- I got the chicken salad which was actually really good! It was plain and perfect. 

Father's Day Weekend

So this past weekend was eventful. First, we found out that Paradise Cove (the amazing venue that was perfect for our wedding theme "simple shore elegance") was available on the Monday of MLK weekend. While we wanted a Saturday and Sunday wedding/reception, lots of research told us that there was no outdoor venue quite like this one for this price in the location we needed. Sketchy and I talked it out and decided that a Sunday/Monday wedding/reception wouldn't be the end of the world. Instead of taking off Friday, people could come into town on Saturday and take off Tuesday. 

We can also play with the idea of day drinking/daytime reception so that people can get to bed earlier and have an early start on Tuesday. I'm sure we'll figure it out, but we're happy to have the venue we really loved! 

We talked to his parents and they were fine with the idea as well so it's all set now! Now that we have the date 100% set, we're going to get save the dates made (we've had the idea for a long time now! -- we're going to do magnets but the picture is what i'm most excited about) and get those sent out soon! 

Saturday we hung out at Sketchy's parents' house. Saturday night we went bowling and got whooped by his dad. I was pretty surprised that he was such a good bowler. By the third game I was starting to get into my groove but the bowling ally was closing =(. While I did not beat his dad, I did beat sketchy in both games! 

Sunday we were going to head out earlier. I usually make it a point to go to the potomac river on Father's Day every year but this year we stuck around for dinner with his dad. We figured we could just do a potomac river cruise and dinner Monday night. We have lots of extra potomac river cruise tickets to use since we had bought some for family during engagement that never got used! 

On Monday Sketchy gave me this before heading out to the potomac river cruise: 

He had worked with Dero and her mom to get pictures of my dad, got them printed at Walgreens and bought a frame. 

I think we're going to get a different frame but I thought this was extremely thoughtful and nice of Sketchy! There's actually one picture that I want to get my hands on again. I had it in my old phone that got stolen.  It was a picture of my brother sitting on my dad's lap where my brother was being bottle fed Budweiser, lol. It's such a perfect picture!

Sketchy's pretty good with the gifts thing. Last year he got me this:

it's a water fountain, you fill it with whatever water and it recycles the water and shoots it through the heart in a circle. 

He got it with the intention of getting potomac water to put in the fountain. We have yet to get the potomac water or run the fountain but again thoughtful and witty. The fountain also says "let love flow." 

We ended up taking our time and choosing to try out a new place called Naan and Beyond in DC instead of the boat cruise. We then spent the rest of the night at the georgetown waterfront (which has come A LONG way). It's so pretty with all the seating areas and the giant steps that go right down to the water. There's also this crazy fountain thing that people let their kids run through. 

It was a really good night. 

Fighting the Good Fight

June 8-14

Saturday and Sunday are extremely blurry. I stayed medicated and slept through the entire weekend. I don't even think I knew what day it was at any point during the weekend. Sketchy stayed home with me and kept me company and also got sick by this point! 

On Monday Sketchy stayed home from work to stay home with me and take me to the doctors for a check-up. After a weekend of sleep I started to have an ear ache and throat ache. The doctor felt retarded that she had told me I had a simple fever. She prescribed some more antibiotics for the ear infection and throat infection i had somehow developed EVEN when I was on antiobiotics for the pneumonia. She told me to come back in a week when I should be feeling better and to make sure that the pneumonia was gone. 

Monday I was awake a little more throughout the day. Still on a liquid and pill diet. 

my not so tastey cocktail of drugs

my stash a few days in 

Tuesday I was definitely more alive. This was when I started invading FB with my soldier diaries. 

Tuesday June 11: 

dear diary,

woke up at 0600.

rounded up and dealt with the wild hogs. 

took 1 antibiotic around 0700.

drank three sips of gatorade at 0715.

rested. 

did some important things on computer 0800. 

rested in and out of sleep.

took second antibiotic for other thing 1000

opened blinds and told dogs to chilltfo.

passed out at 1015.

startled awake by intruder breaching the premises around 1700.

intruder soon identified as one sketchy patel - aka my caretaker.

yells of headache and confusion. no food. no water. confused as to how it was already 1730. headache was determined to be caused by dehydration. (antibiotics take it right out of u leaving u with dry, cracked, and sometimes cut-up tongue and lips.

was fed fresh watermelon and gatorade at 1735

caretaker patel installed a new air purifier. it goes whirrrrr and zaps the germs. 1800

the dogs and I settle back down for bedtime. headache still slight. 5 pieces of watermelon and 3 oz of gatorade. 1820.

1842 tells the world of her day.

slightly less dead. but still hungry.

Wednesday June 12 

Dear diary,

Last night I tried to sleep without sleepaid. Gave up around 0500. 

opened my eyes to find what looked like a giant man-eating gorilla staring down at me. after short breaths, realized it was a way past full bearded Sketchy around 0700.

sapna appeared around 0900, delivered to my door by papa patel.

i was informed that she would be staying to watch over me for the next two days.

i feel violently ill after trying to take two large antibiotics together 0930

i vomit violently (possibly the pills) after much complaining of stomach pains 0945

vomit is red. after much debate we conclude that it is the red gatorade I have recently drank vs my blood and guts. 1000

i hear various banging, clinging, machines and yelling beyond my door. i imagine sapna is hard at work cleaning -- throughout the entire day.

sapna gives me soup which i manage to eat a bit 1100 

sickly sue is bored. current status.

Thursday June 13 

wake up to the jarring shrieking sound of my telephone around 0730.

paranoid and excited voice informs me of two incoming storms that are going to kill me 0735.

am informed by paranoid informant, sketchy, that I must immediately take my antibiotics and relocate to basement where there is less threat of giant falling trees crushing me in my sleeping. 0736

I bolt up and frantically tell sapna we must go to giant and get all the protective things. 0738

explain to sapna why we are at giant and what foods do and do not make sense. 0745

feel faint and nauseous in giant towards end of grocery trip. 0800

tell sapna to check out. 0805

steal grocery bag from pharmacy, sit in corner and have most terrible metal tasting puke ever. 0807

realization set in.forgot to take antinausea medicine before taking horse tranquilizer antibiotics in frenzy to prepare for impending death storm, which I also now realize will probably just be a rainstorm. kick self in head for letting sketchy get to a born and raised florida hurricane girl. 0807

concerned white people give me stank eye as I look like crackhead in eeyore nightgown and bball sports throwing up in giant. 0808

leave store with head down. 0810

sapna drives home. 0815

I hold on for dear life and get in my morning prayers. 0815

home bunkered down in basement with ice, cooler, various other foods but missing the one thing I set out to get -- a flashlight.

well have to settle for candles and the fumes they will bring to my weakened lungs.

battery power... low and you know it.

sickly sue out.
so a note on this particular day. the flashlight i forgot -- i told sketchy to pick one up. Here's what Paranoid McGee brought home: 

we're ready for the apocalypse. Paranoid McGee claimed he was not trying to be overly prepared but that it was just a good deal. 

Sketchy also went to the doctors on Thursday and got his own set of antibiotics.

Friday I started feeling better just in time to start taking care of Sketchy. Our home is one giant germ! Friday was also AJ's birthday! Quarter-life. The big 2-5! We had to miss out on celebrations in order not to infect the world. I missed out on moonshine. Very upseticus. We're hoping to take him out to dinner next week sometime to make up for it! 

Pneumonia Death.

June 1-7

Saturday Kris turned 30! Can't believe he's so old. It was also Hetal's birthday. Both looked like they had good nights. =)

Sunday we went to kickball -- lost again, nothing new. We legitimately finished 16th out of 16 teams. I have no idea what the hell happened this season. At least if we had to suck, we were the best losers! I feel like we missed over half of the games for random reasons. I believe I got on base every game that we went to, but never scored =(. Such is life.

After kickball we headed down to Fburg to Sketchy's parents to celebrate his parents's 31st wedding anniversary.

Sapna came back with us from Fburg to spend a couple days in Springfield. On Monday we went in to get x-rays of my crazy back issues, spent some time checking out wedding dresses and then had dinner at Chipotle.

On Tuesday I went into the city with Sapna. We went on a potomac river cruise and then had an amazing lunch deal at Bangkok Joe's on the waterfront. I think I found a place that has better Mojitos than Zengos. Seriousness. That night we went to see a screening of The Internship with Sapna and Diana. It was a much better movie than I thought it'd be. I would have seen it even if it looked horrible though, since Vince Vaughn is my celebrity crush. He's so charming and hilarious. =)

Wednesday we busted out the new grill tools (burger press and corn grilling basket) and this was when I started feeling really sick out of no where!

Thursday I went to the doctors and was told that I had just a viral situation where antibiotics wouldn't help. Doc told me to take 800mg IB and nyquil and sleep it off for a few days. My body hurt and my fever was making me miserable which caused me not to be able to sleep even with nyqil.

Friday I was still feeling terrible and nothing was helping me to sleep. I was also up to a 103 fever.  After having been up for almost 48 hours with tons of medicine in me I was starting to feel extremely loopy and restless. I was legitimately losing it. Around midnight we went to the ER where I was given an IV (the most amazing thing ever) and some magical sleep medicine. After some tests and x-rays the doc told me that I had pneumonia. No idea how that happened but whatevs. I was prescribed a few medications and told to go home and sleep!

I slept SO well Friday night.

Straight Grillin'

One thing we were very much looking forward to when looking at houses was summer time and grilling! We were looking for that perfect backyard where we could host cookouts. So we didn't find that perfect backyard (as it's still in shambles) BUT we did get a grill, actually we just stole Sketchy's dad's grill because he's a vegetarian, let's face it, he does NOT need a grill. That, and he hasn't used it in ages! 

Anyways, it's the highlight of our outdoor space for now. Thanks to Navin, we've also been able to dress her up a bit:

hands down one of Sketchy's favorite engagement gifts! =)

So starting Wednesday after folks headed back home, we started grilling it up. We grilled three-four days straight until I got sick and pneumonia wrecked our lives. 

Meal 1: Kabobs!

Meal 2: Grilled Chicken, Baked Potatoes and Grilled Green Beans!

Meal 3: Good ol' Fashion Turkey Burgers and Corn on the Cob (for sketchy)

Got to try out the burger press and corn grill basket (engagement presents from Kaitlin and James!). The burger press is AWESOME and sketchy loves the corn griller basket thing. I don't eat corn but he loves it. lol 

This was the night I got sick so there were no pictures of the final product. I hit the bed before they were done!