Valentine's Day Tradition/Rant

The puking last night was definitely an indication of being super sick. Crazy high fever and cold chills with a side of sore throat and burning sinuses! Medicated and stayed home today. Really terrible because I REALLY need to be at work today and tomorrow. So many deadlines, so stressed out at work lately. 

Caution: this will be lengthy.

Anyways, it's Valentine's Day if you didn't realize that yet. I have had a very specific Valentine's Day tradition for the past 5 years. I have vowed never to spend a Valentine's Day with a boy if I have other friends available to hang out that evening. And YES, I have been doing this since BEFORE the stupid girl in "Valentine's Day" did it and made it a thing. 

Five years ago, I learned a very valuable lesson. Significant others and relationships are breakable. A significant other can decide at anytime that he/she has found something better and/or new or more morbid (but true), can die at any point and leave you completely single. At that point the only people you really have are friends and family. I've always been closer to friends than family. 

When you make your significant other your entire life shutting out others, what are you really left with when the significant other is removed from your life? Exactly, nothing. 

Then you're just that annoying person who resurfaces heartbroken and needy, who knows nothing about your friends current lives. You don't want to be that person and you don't want to feel that way. Always make time for friends. 

While I'm thankful that to some degree I made it a point to balance friends and relationship (since I did have a good number of friends that were still there when significant other disappeared) it has become so much more important to me to ensure that there is a really good balance there, and if anything 60% friendship, 40% relationship. 

Yes, I've heard it already -- this isn't fair to the current boy and how don't I feel bad for Sketchy or think about his point of view, but at the end of the day such is life: current and future significant others will always have to deal with the damage a past sig other, relationship and/or life event has caused. 

This is basically the first of many things I told sketchy which should have scared him off (friends will always take priority on my life list). Quite honestly, this is one of the reasons I know Sketchy is the one. Even if he doesn't like it, or understand it, he respects it. I have every other day of our lives to have dinner with Sketchy. Also, this is not to say that we don't exchange presents or that kind of thing, but I just don't feel like I need to block out the whole evening for him when I feel it would mean more to someone else. 

Until today, I have been able to be true to this tradition by at least having dinner with friends for Valentine's Day instead of a boy. 

Valentine's Day 2009

Valentine's Day 2011

Thanks to this ridiculously horrible flu situation I really feel too lightheaded to drive, much less go out and drink. I don't want to be around people and get them sick either. As such, I cancelled tonight and I am so so so upset about it. I'm a creature of habit with a slight case of OCD. I like stability and tradition and I very much dislike change and/or breaking of tradition! 

I don't know what I'm more upset about, the fact that I'm sick and dying or the fact that I have had to cancel my plans tonight. 

Anyways, next year I'm making up for sure, granted I have friends that want to hang out on V-Day and are not busy with their sig others. 

Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse!

First, Top Gun review. The movie's old-ness actually didn't bother me that much. The lows of the movie were some of the lines and timing and delivery of those lines. Some were just completely absurd and ridiculous. There were awkward moments of just weird smiling between Tom Cruise and the chick which were also weird, but beyond that it was a good movie. There were two moments that stood out to me as really well done in 3-D. All in all it was not a waste of my life and I can now avoid stares of horror when I say "no, I have not seen Top Gun." 

Tonight we went to the Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse -- FINALLY. I got Sketchy tickets to the VT 2013 Football Team Preview. 

The wintry mix (rain/snow) was no fun but the drafthouse itself is really cozy. I definitely want to go back to see a movie or comedian! So this VT thing. Evidently it's an annual event. Doors opened at 6:00PM. I got there at 6:03PM and I shit you not, there were hardly any seats left!! I kept joking with Sketchy all day that it was going to be SOOO busy because SOOO many people lovveee the Hokies so I would get there super early to save seats. I think my jaw dropped when I was stumbling around to find seats. 

We had dinner there -- the fried mac and cheese is seriously the best I've had! The mac and cheese inside the breading was so tastey. Didn't have anything to drink, but their beer list was pretty good as well. Prices were good too! 

So when we walked in, we got a list of the new recruits. Sketchy had evidently already knew all their names and all about them! He had been reading about them for a while I guess. I mean I know he's always reading sports blogs, news and team web sites but didn't realize he was reading about VT recruits! He was totally into the event and really liked it which made me happy. We'll be doing this annually for sure! 

The event started off with an auction which was pretty neat. There was a Logan Thomas autographed jersey and a Beemer autographed football. The Jersey went for ~550.00 and the football went for around ~250.00 I think. The raffle at the end was for two tickets to each home game and then a few shirts and such. Of course we did not win anything -- we have the worst luck with those kinds of things. 

The new recruits look pretty good. Too bad they won't be relevant for another couple years in life!

In other TMI news, I totally projectile puked all over the steering wheel as I was driving home today. I had been feeling a bit stomach-y since last night and throat hurt this morning but definitely starting to feel full-on sick tonight! Gah. DC weather, I cannot handle your bi-polarness. 

Top Gun Tuesday

So last night's plan was very simple -- go home, cook and do some P90X. 2/3 of that was successful. We did go home, we did cook, but got a call from Varsha that their flight was delayed until after midnight and they were going stir crazy in the tiny DCA terminal. So they all hopped on a metro and came out to springfield. I ended up making three trays of the Cheesey Jalapeno Stuffed Chicken and hanging out. Fail on exercise, win on hanging out with Varsha for a little while longer while she was in town. 

cooking. 

Cheesey Jalapeno Stuffed Chicken 

The chicken came out great. Sketchy said it was one of the best chicken things I've made. 

Diana has convinced me to go watch Top Gun in IMAX/3-D. Everyone knows I do not like movies made or set in any time frame before 2000 and also don't like movies about real things. I like complete escapism modern chick flicks. Anyways, it's only showing in select IMAX theaters for this week so we're going tonight with Sketchy, Melanie and Misha. I also don't like Tom Cruise -- old or young. lol, so we'll see how this goes. My payback will be that Diana has to watch some really ridiculous cheesy notebook-y chick flick with me at some point this year. 

Will let you know my thoughts on Top Gun tomorrow.

Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken

Since last week was super busy I haven't been able to spend much time in the kitchen. I found this fantastic list of 30 weight watchers meals which all look delicious. Tonight we're making number 17: Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken.

1.   Crockpot Santa Fe Chicken - 4 PointsPlus by Skinny Taste
2.   Crockpot Chicken Bake - 8 PointsPlus by Friends For Weight Loss
3.   Bubble Up Enchilada Casserole - 8 PointsPlus by My Baking Heart
4.   Delicious Southwestern Slow Cooker Chicken - 9 PointsPlus by Simple Nourished Living
5.   Grilled Pesto Shrimp Skewers – 5 PointsPlus by Skinny Taste
6.   Flank Steak Tacos - 7 PointsPlus (2 Tacos) by “Point-less” Meals
7.   Pork Chops with Creamy Gravy – 7 PointsPlus by “Point-less” Meals
8.   Pepper, Onion & Sausage Calzones – 8 PointsPlus by “Point-less” Meals
9.   Chicken Enchilada Casserole - 7 PointsPlus by Recipe Girl
10. Garden Style Lasagna - 7 PointsPlus by Recipe Girl
11. Baked Turkey & Jack Cheese Chimichangas – 6 PointsPlus by Weight Watchers
12. Grilled Chicken with Spinach & Melted Mozzarella – 4 PointsPlus by Skinny Taste
13. Chicken & White Bean Stuffed Peppers – 8 PointsPlus by Skinny Taste
14. Skinny Tuna Noodle Casserole - 8 PointsPlus by Skinny Taste
15. Baked Ziti with Spinach - 9 PointsPlus by Skinny Taste
16. Simple Skinny Chunky Tomato Soup – 4 PointsPlus by Simple Nourished Living
17. Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken – 9 PointsPlus by Skinny Taste
18. Bangin Grilled Shrimp Skewers – 3 PointsPlus by Skinny Taste
19. Apricot Balsamic Chicken - 8 PointsPlus by Recipe Girl
20. Easy Peasy Lasagna Skillet – 7 PointsPlus by The Realistic Nutritionist
21. Mexican Chicken Casserole - 9 PointsPlus by Cooking Light
22. Chili Pot Pies – 6 PointsPlus by “Point-less” Meals
23. Sheperd’s Pie with Turkey & Mashed Sweet Potatoes – 6 PointsPlus by Weight Watchers
24. Slow Cooker Enchiladas – 6 PointsPlus by skinnyms.
25. Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken – 10 PointsPlus by “Point-less” Meals
26. Slim & Healthy Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole – 7 PointsPlus by Simple Nourished Living
27. Makeover Cheeseburger Soup Recipe – 5 PointsPlus by Simple Nourished Living
28. Crockpot Turkey Green Chili Chowder – 5 PointsPlus by Simple Nourished Living
29. Apricot Glazed Pork Roast – 7 PointsPlus by Recipe Girl
30. Chicken Spaghetti Casserole – 13 PointsPlus by Recipe Girl

I'm going to start cooking one of these bad boys throughout the week. This week is also the week Sketchy and I begin our P90X workout situation. Excited to get home and get started today!

A Day for Rest -- Finally

Yesterday I mentioned we went to Ben's Chili Bowl. We were all so hungry.

Varsha -- love her smile in this picture looking at the food. lol

This was just Sketchy and my food. So much!

Ever since Kerry visited and had that turkey dog and said it was the most amazing thing ever, I've been craving it. It was pretty good -- but maybe not the most amazing thing ever. 

Ben's was also giving out these free Obama posters which were really well done:

This week has been extremely exhausting. I think we've gone out almost every night, and this weekend was even more crazy. The bar crawl was absolute success last night. Made lots of new friends, lots of "cupid shots" and dancing. We ended up hitting Irish Whiskey, Mighty Pint, Sign of the Whale (for 2 seconds), Ozio, Fiesta and ended at Front Page. All in all it was a great group of people to be hanging out with and a ton of fun.

How I know where we went

Today we headed to the city for lunch. Had to make Varsha eat biryani at Mehran because that place has my heart. She agreed it was the best biryani she's ever had. =) Then we dropped Varsha and her friends off in the city at their hotel. They're actually in the area for a medical conference. I don't think I'll be seeing them again since they're in meetings all day today and tomorrow and then flying out Monday afternoon/evening.

We added one tiny new addition to our home which I've been wanting to put up for a while now. A hard ground due to freezing temperatures and rainy cloudy weather have not been helpful! Finally got path lights up (they need to charge for a full 24 hours -- solar powered -- before they will light):

Now we're finally at home, just relaxing. So nice. Think I'll nap the rest of the day away!

Cupid Bar Crawl

Last night was a success which obviously meant a really slow morning for all. We ended up doing power-hour which turned into power 1.5 hours of random mix-mashed youtube videos. It was all very loosey-goosey. Did a great job killing all left over superbowl beer though! 

Varsha, Diana and I had great big plans of bottomless mimosas at noon. After waking up around 9, no one was game for that plan. We ended up taking naps until around 2 and are now heading out to Ben's Chili Bowl. 

Afterwards, we'll head straight to the bar crawl. There are some good places on the list. Mighty Pint and Ozio are two places I've really come to like in the past few months. Hopefully Varsha and her friends like the places and everyone has fun! 

Baby Liam Visit and Varsha Incoming

Last night we went to Dorsa and Erik's place to meet baby Liam. Their house was so calm it wasn't even funny. Liam was super peaceful and quiet -- in and out of sleep. He got fed A LOT while we were there, lol. I held Liam successfully (no crying!) and so did Sketchy. 

Super cute Liam

Erik's burping master positioning

Sketchy held him...

and he was like wtf is this?!

and then was like OHHH it's a darker human with lots of hair!

they were fascinated with one another

he's so smalllll. cuteness =)

Today Varsha and a couple of her friends will be in DC. Super excited. We're going to hang out and chill out at home in preparation for the Cupid Bar Crawl tomorrow. I'm really excited for this weekend. Varsha's visits to DC are always eventful and, of course, fun. 

I think that's about it for today. 

Happy Friday!