Sleeping in a tent … while it rained … as a grown adult.

And it was really fun!

Silly me, I forgot my uploader cord (that’s my technical name for it) to add some really good images of my first camping experience … but never fear, I will do that when we get home tomorrow afternoon and John is doing loads of work (that I would like to add a post script to, that reads~

“Dear John’s Work,

I think it’s beyond ludicrous that you expect your [insert John’s job] to do extra work at home on a three-day weekend because, quote, they have more time. FYI, John’s Work, a three-day weekend is three days of NOT being at work, therefore, you can’t expect higher productivity. Rather, you should lower your goals accordingly, because it’s 4 day work week.

Sincerely,

John’s Roommate 😉 ”

I am going to get back to my tent, sans electricity, to enjoy the pitter patter of little rain drops.

Hope everyone’s weekends are super fan-tab-ulous!

Hello Weekend!  Since it’s John’s birthday tomorrow, he’s in charge of the agenda.

He wants to BBQ (I’m already thinking of ideas!) and play frisbee golf (I’ve never played before).  The goal, I’m told, is to get your frisbee in the basket (like below). You play 18 holes (like real golf!) and keep track of your strokes. Apparently, you can also have different discs to accomplish different things during each hole (I’m amazed by all of it).

Near where we live is the second oldest Frisbee Golf course in the country (the things I learn when I google!)  I’ll have to let you know how it all turns out ~  until then, I hope you’re enjoying a beautiful weekend as well!

(Can you tell I’m slightly obsessed with the flowers in our garden?  And as a tribute to John, these flower pics were both taken by him!)

Lately, my life has been full to the brim with ‘Insanity’ workouts, trials and turmoil on the work front, and creative cooking on a budget.  On top of that, John is gearing up for some business trips, so we spent three full mornings at the Philadelphia passport office.  I’m sure there are more fun things to do, but I can’t think of any off the top of my head.  (Ha ha!).

Who would have thought a few pages bound together with the United States seal could take so much time to procure?  I have to admit that I’ve never had to go through the process of a first time applicant, as I’ve had a passport since I was about three months old.  Mailing in a certified envelope is vastly superior to standing in line in a poorly ventilated room for over an hour just to have someone behind a window confirm that you were indeed able to follow directions, and you do have with you a completed application, proof of citizenship and a driver’s license (which they checked before they would even let you get in line).  After which, you are given a number (like at a deli counter) and directed to a waiting area next to the interminably long line you’ve just escaped from.

But… dum da da dum …. now John has his first passport, and the whole world just opened up for him ~ to go explore far off places, experience different cultures and societies, or just idle by a white-sanded beach on a tropical island and sip decadent cocktails.

I’ve been very lucky in my life to see some incredible places.  I’ve walked amongst the huge monoliths at Stonehenge, stared up at the indescribably beautiful Sistine Chapel and the chiseled perfection of ‘David.’  I’ve ridden a cable car to the top of Table Mountain, and stared silently (and with some dread) at dozens of alligators, some twenty feet long, waiting patiently to be fed. I’ve been close enough to wild elephants to reach out and touch them, and watched giraffe run through long savanna grass as the sun set.  I’ve walked through the rooms of Anne Frank’s hideaway house in Amsterdam, and ridden a bicycle along the canals.  I’ve driven a Vespa in Rome, taken a gondola ride in Venice after standing awestruck in St. Mark’s Square, and looked out across the expanse of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower.  I’ve seen Hugh Jackman as ‘Curly’ in Oklahoma in the West End.  I’ve seen Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria on Broadway. When I start to think about all the things I have had the great fortune to do, I’m a little in awe.

As I’ve said before, there’s no place like home (and HOW beautiful does our back garden look right now?) BUT there’s also nothing like coming home after an amazing adventure.

I’m looking forward to journeying to new and fun places with John by my side.  I’ve done most of my traveling alone, or with family (my mother is from the U.K., so I have a lot of family spread out all over the place, including England, Scotland, France and Italy) and it will be amazing to share all those fun places with someone I utterly adore.

I try to remember that I’ve been lucky enough to do some incredible stuff, and that a lot of people will never travel to Africa, or even Paris.  I’m focusing on that, because right now, I feel like all the adventure is knocking on John’s door, and I’m the one staying home.  My passport needs to be renewed as well ~ and I didn’t realize how trapped I felt about it until John’s shiny new book was handed over to him by the (surprisingly) friendly clerk Tuesday morning.  I felt suddenly claustrophobic.  Very odd.

Travelling is like the best and worst of everything rolled up all together, shaken around, and then held close to your heart.  It’s architecture, and nightlife, and indulgent food and drinks, and souvenirs, and airplanes, and waiting lounges, and dehydration, and inevitable delays.  It’s lost luggage and new clothing.  I think it breaths life into your soul ~ and I’m aching to travel again.  (Clearly!)

So my application is all filled out, and my passport pics are taken ~ so Costa Rica, here I come! (I don’t know when, but I’m hoping it’s soon!)

I had been looking forward to tonight for weeks.  Weeks, I tell you.  I saw the sign, I burned it into memory, and I was completely excited for the Ambler Symphony to play an outdoor (free!!) c0ncert at Hope Lodge (all of 2 minutes from our humble abode). And then … the edges of my dream night at the symphony began to fray.

This evening hit a couple “road bumps” along the way.

First, it was a Wednesday (which is normally WeHangsDay). Our partners-in-crime had another event they wanted to attend (historical buildings in Bryn Athyn being lit up to the sounds of recorded classical music) while I had been waiting patiently since last August and Symphony on the Prairie in Indiana for another opportunity to listen to symphony music outside.  We realized we had to go our separate ways.  I just wasn’t willing to give up my plans.  Not after 10 months of waiting.

Second, out of nowhere, John had a business function (code for ‘Phillies tickets’).  Big boo.

Third, I got a work call at 6.20pm which seriously killed my getting-ready mojo.

But, in the end … it all came together to be a perfect, indulgent me night.

So here’s the thing ~ just as I was thinking that my world was (Mary Poppins again) ‘practically perfect in every way,’ it began to implode uncontrollably.  The man got a job promotion, which is going to potentially put him out of the country for the majority of the summer.  My job security went from ‘decent’ to ‘precarious’ overnight (ugh, stress, yuck) and I can’t help but be constantly stressed about law school.   So, please, Law School Gods, whisper sweetly into the ear of the admissions committee and tell them they were right… my personal statement and writing skills are impressive, and they totally want me to attend their school.  (Sidenote, I did actually get into two schools, and I even got a scholarship to one ~ but I’m putting all eggs in another basket, so keep your fingers crossed for me!).

But at 7pm (just in time I might add) I was set up, and ready to indulge in outdoor music, some yummy food (not cooked by me, but … procured by me from one of my company’s restaurants) and a bottle of serious vino (Laeticia Estate Pinot Noir ~ 2008).

This was my view!  WOO HOO!!!  I got the picture in the post!!

This was my delectable meal (proscuitto, fluffy pizza bread, roasted peppers -which I have been craving something fierce ever since I saw Smitten Kitchen‘s Roasted Pepper & Mozzarella Salad-, and my current fav cheese, Kunik, which is sublime).

I also had a sexy Citronella Candle (which, theoretically, was supposed to keep the bugs away … theoretically).  And “Practically a Wine Glass” from one of my closest friends (she who introduced me to ‘Symphony on the Prairie’ in Indy, where we listened to a Duke Ellington repetoire last August), which looks totally legit, but is actually plastic (and one of a set of four … I’m a spoiled little girl!)

The attendees at this fab event (including me!) were able to enjoy music selections including “Irish Suite” by Leroy Anderson, “Irish Rhapsody” by Victor Herber, “Ouverture of Raymond” by Ambrose Thomas (I’m going by the spelling in the program, so bear with me!) and “Blue Danube Waltzes” by Johann Straus II.  They also included a few encores, one of which was “Stars and Stripes Forever.”  All in all, despite my hesitance to go it alone, I had a great time.

PS.  This picture looked better on the camera ~ I do actually smile, but apparently not in any pics today!

It was a completely worthwhile experience, and got me out of the house and socializing with total strangers (I won the award for “Best Set-Up” because, well, to be honest, I had a rockstar set up going on!).

And now, as Winnie-the-Pooh once said, “To Bed!”