BIRTHDAY SURPRISES, PART I

say whaaaaaaat!?

You see THAT?
I'm still at something of a COMPLETE loss of words over what's unfolding so far this weekend.

My guess is that everyone except me was savvy to the underlying plans for tonight, but as keen as I usually am to people being sneaky [the good way & the bad way... :| .. ], I was not expecting nor prepared for my friends to walk through the door.

My friends FROM ILLINOIS.

Before I had any idea what was happening, this was already happening:

... to ohio they were going.... 

Rob had managed to coordinate a birthday weekend for me that included two of my best friends of Illinois, Becky, Brandon.. AND.... 

ahhhh!!!

I'm FLOORED.
My friends are here. I'm apparently supposed to pack a bag for tomorrow, because we're heading somewhere.. that they won't disclose.

THESE. SNEAKY. PEOPLE.
[how I love them SO!]

♥♥♥♥♥

xo | cmd 

And STRAIGHT for the Fried Green Beans I Go...

In a strange, spur-of-the-moment change of events this morning, I ended up driving the tank to work. I, like the amateur I swear I am sometimes, wish I would've taken a quick snapshot of that thing parked in between the usual cars in the parking lot at work.. haha.

BUT HEY! It's FRIDAY!

no make-up, ready for the weekend!

And here's a little twist to the story of Friday lunches here:

post-lunch, you're welcome.

Hahah. Elisa and I were like ravenous wildebeasts by the time lunch came around; I sorta wish I would've saved a picture of the salmon that went with the salad, but it was almost like my survival instincts kicked in and told me to just shut up, sit down and eat. I'm not proud of the carnage, but to say I really cared is well, nah.

Anywhoo, I checked work off the day's list, headed home and switched into road trip mode for the ride out to Illinois. Rob met me at the house and we were on our way within the half hour. We even caught the sunset as we droooooove through Indiana [Jason Aldean has this whole Fly Over States thing right!].

yeah, so it was way prettier in person... :/

Like the habitual creatures that we are, we made it to Illinois, thought of food, and immediately defaulted to Bindy's. I. don't. know why it's always this place, but it is.

bindy's | granite city, il

Oh wait, yes I do know:

give me... fried green beans!

We laughed over that picture, because I could probably document every single time over the past year that we've gone back to visit, just by timestamping my pictures of these things. Every. Time.

And this is how our weekend is starting.

burst capture mode.. thanks, samsung..

i'm not touching you...
... yes, yes you actually are.
.... meh.

Haha. It's gonna be a long one ;)
Just kidding. We made it!

See ya on the flipside!

xo | cmd

Friday The 13th!

.. and all that jazz...

Jk. That sutff doesn't really bother me.
... But just for safe measures, Sydni and I didn't do anything intensely precarious tonight. Haha.

The Friday fun started at work, when we did our weekly Friday lunch. This week it was Rusty Bucket, which was a sure blast from the past. I've not been there since I lived in Norwood... which was just, yenno, a mere six years ago. [Holy cow]. Anyway, not mad.. it was delicious, and Elisa, Nikki and I promised we wouldn't speak in detail of how carniverous we looked inhaling our lunch. Hah.. (:

rusty bucket veggie burger... y-u-M.

ahhhhhdore her.

After work, it was straight to get Sydni and off to do some grocery shopping. It's always an adventure with her, and tonight, because of a couple of select things that I couldn't find at Target or really just anywhere else, I settled on Wal-Mart. Sydni gave me her own shopping list:

[As read aloud to me from her "list," which was actually a {beautiful} purple circle with polka dot spots inside it.. apparently each signifying a grocery item. I've yet to decipher this code.. but I digress...]

1. Bread
2. Peanut Jelly [yes, the blend of two great things]
3. Pasketti [spaghetti]
4. Carrots & Ranch Dressing
5. Yogurt
6. Waffles, but "not the kind with spots" [aka blueberries or chocolate chips]
7. A castle. Maybe next time on that one.
8. A pony.

We didn't get the castle, but we may or may not have made some freely adapted arrangements for a pony.. (:

Aaaaaaaand, I almost failed to mention: today was the first day that I walked outside before work to air that just felt like fall. You know.. that crisp pinch and that leafy smell, or whatever the scientists will call it. I realized it's finally turning seasons, and while that means many things, the first and most important thing is that it's indicative of BEANIE SEASON!
-- What's beanie season? Easy: It's a span of time in which the weather will allow the wearing of beanies. Haha. I refrained all summer, since I already have a solar panel built onto the top of my head. Wearing a beanie on top of that would probably melt me.



beanie season!!!

The evening consisted of Syd and I sticking close to the house; it's been bike riding, bubble blowing and coloring. She's fighting off sleep now, and I think it's time I help her - and me - get some shut eye. Tomorrow's soccer practice and whatever else we can get ourselves into.

G'Nite!

xo | cmd