Love Thwarted

I just got home from 2 1/2 of the best days I've spent in YEARS. Debbie and I went to Chicago Thursday afternoon. We left for Merrilville, IN where we stopped at Mike's wife's salon. There, I had the best facial EVER. Then a foot massage focusing on pressure points. Then a facial. HEAVEN. HEAVEN.

That evening we went to Mike's house. He made an absolutely gorgeous and truly pallete pleasing gourmet meal:

Course one - cheddar cheese with Shiraz
Course two - grilled shrimp & Shiraz
Course three - kick ass mushroom/cream reduction over puff
pastry & red wine
Course four - grilled beef fillet with mushroom reduction,
grilled asparagus & brussels sprouts, and
mashed potatoes with blue cheese, cream & butter
with red wine and champaigne.
Course five - Bavarian cake with 20 year old port.

TO DIE FOR! Super fun company, lots of laughter with Mike & wife Debbie, and 3 of their friends, and Mike's daughter & boyfriend.

Sleep over in Mike's house. Debbie and I are in heaven and try to figure out how it could get better than this day.

Friday

Wake up at Mike & Debbie's. Try to ignore rolling tummy and dry mouth. Take a shower. Feel a little better. Have some wonderful coffee, 1/2 piece of raisin bread and pack up the car.

Head out for the commuter train into Chicago. Ride an hour, get off right at the end of the line in d.t. Chicago. Walk around a mile to defense attorney Shimon's office. Meet his co-worker Mark (Greek as they come). Take the red line to Cominsky field where we meet up with Ed from Illinois. Meet his buddies. One looked and acted just like Joe Peschi. Have a beer and a couple of brats. I was a little wilted before that, but picked right up after the food & brewsky. Go to the WHITE SOX v CUBS game. YES YES YES!! Fun as all get out. Full stadim. Ate a hot dog & a couple of beers. Cheered. The Cubbies win, which makes me very happy. I wore lots of sun screen and didn't even get burned.

Now, you are probably asking, "What's love got to do with it?" Sounds like eating and drinking to me. Give me time...

After the game, we chilled out with Ed & crew for a while, and then walked a thousand miles after we got off the red line to Greek Island in Greektown. By now, I'm hot. I'm tired. I'm thirsty. My feet hurt and Debbie is really hard to walk with because her stride is soooooo long. We finally get to Greek Island where we meet up with 2 of Debbie's friends, Larry and John T. I look at Larry and OMG - BAM BAM BAM. He's so cute. John T. is 100% Greek. Looks Greek, speaks the language, funny. We sit at a table, and he says, "Christy, do you want to see a menu or would you like me to order for you." I said, please, order for me. This is your party. Are you ready for this? Here it is...

Each of these items is a course: bread & olive oil, flaming cheese, cold octopus salad, greek salad, lemon rice soup, family style oven roasted lamb and potatoes, and desserts!, flan, orange cake, yogurt, honey & walnuts, & some sort of egg custard. Lots of vino - house rose.

So, we are there spending time with these two engaging, funny, sweet, men, and little by little, I'm totally falling for Larry. Unh. Wow. Those eyes, that smile, the way he listens completely...hearing him say, "What a great giggle...". We part ways, John T is taking us to our car, Debbie says, "Is Larry married?" John says "Yes." My heart breaks. Love thwarted.

cje

In the beginning

It's all about me. It really is. I just need to convince everyone else of the truth of this statement. =)

O.K. It's NOT all about me. I just wish it was sometimes. Don't you?

I'm looking forward to this weekend. I'm going to Chicago with a friend. We are going to a Spa - facials and pedicures - and out to dinner with a great guy who happens to be a gourmet cook with a kick-it wine collection. That's Thursday (yea! a 1/2 day off work!). Then Friday, we are gonna walk around downtown Chicago in the morning, and in the afternoon we are taking in a White Sox game (yea! an ENTIRE day off work!). Then Friday night we are meeting a couple of guys and going to Greek Town for dinner. Does that sound fun or what? (MUST REMEMBER SUNSCREEN AND HAT).

Then next week, yet ANOTHER day off work Friday which is the beginning of my vacation! I'm going to my sister's house. My brothers Sam and Don with be there, along with Don's family. My sister's kids are about the same age as theirs. My Dad and step mom will be there, too. Family reunion of sorts. I'm taking my youngest with me (Princess Sarah). She's going to be a Senior this coming school year, and this may be the last opportunity we have to spend time together with her as a family. It's a beautiful thing to have time off. Not that I don't appreciate my job. It's a good job. It pays well. Nice perks. It's just time for vacation.