Security detail

Mister likes to join me when I head down to the W&OD trail for a wog (walk/jog), especially when the weather is nice, like today. Unlike most running pairs, we don’t exercise side by side. Instead, Mister insists on being no less than 5 feet behind me at all times, as illustrated by this photo of our comically distorted shadows:

He says it’s to make it easier for people to pass us but I don’t think that’s the whole story. You see, one aspect of his job is working security details and I think he sees me as his protectee, which means he needs to be in the best possible position to pull out a weapon or krav maga moves in the event my safety is compromised. It kind of makes me feel important.

I probably need a code name.

Spicy Fish Tacos

I am obsessed with the fish tacos at Tacklebox in Georgetown (if you’re local, GO THERE). They are the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten. If I was on death row and preparing for my execution (which is how I often feel as I’m going to French class), I would request those fish tacos to be my last meal. So when I saw this recipe for fish tacos, I had to give it a shot.

They’re no Tacklebox fish tacos, but they sure are delicious. Especially if you like your food to have a little kick. Maybe you should make them.

Not the reason for the holiday, but a delicious benefit

Mister decided this week to give up sugar. Not just during the week, but forever. Just in time for Easter, which happens to be the best holiday as far as candy is concerned. I informed him today that with his determination to give up sweets, he is also depriving me of my favorite Easter activity, making Easter baskets (and eating their contents). He wasn’t very sympathetic. Then I remembered that my mom sent me a package this week. So I called her to see if she thought to include a delicious chocolate egg from Sees or Cummings, (she wouldn’t let me down, would she?!) but, like my dear Mister, she and my dad are trying to cut out sugar and thought that sending me a beloved chocolate egg would do more harm than good. She’s wrong. Fancy chocolate eggs are good for the soul.

So I went to Godiva and bought myself a few fancy little chocolate eggs, because if I didn’t, no one else would. That should be the end of the story, but I made the mistake of walking past the candy aisle at Target. 15 dollars later (with my cousin as my excuse) I’m ready for Easter. That is if the candy lasts that long.

Transported

I have a horrible memory. I often have a difficult time remembering what I said or did 5 seconds before. It’s a bit frustrating. I do, however, have awesome sensory recall. Last weekend, Mister and I drove down to Holden Beach, NC for his cousins wedding. The drive was one big flashback for me. Instead of our 4runner, I was navigating the Delorean down memory lane.

-As we were stuck in rush hour traffic, I saw myself parked on I-95 on a hot Friday evening with the windows rolled down, my foot propped up on the seat, and NPR’s All Things Considered blaring from the speakers, as I headed down to Chapel Hill to meet Mister, my then boyfriend, who was, at that moment, driving up from training in Georgia to meet me after being apart for several weeks. This was the first of several trips during the 3 months he was there.

-Again, on that same stretch of highway, I saw Tara in the passenger seat of my beloved Protege, as we crawled our way down to Fredericksburg to satisfy a craving for Sonic shakes and strawberry limeade.

-As the sun went down and Virginia gave way to North Carolina, instead of the most recent episode of This American Life, I was counting down the hours until I saw Mister in Fayetteville (a spur of the moment trip) while listening to a Sookie Stackhouse novel with a full moon overhead, imagining I was in Bon Temps.

-As I was anticipating the awesome (and numerous) billboards for South of the Border, instead of a sleepy Mister in the passenger seat, Holly and Tyler were there, dead asleep, and I was listening to the Wicked soundtrack over and over again, as I drove the three of us through the night down to Myrtle to celebrate the 4th of July.

-When I turned off of I-95, I found myself on the familiar stretch of highway where I called Mister to tell him I was only an hour away from Wilmington,where he was waiting for me, and where he later quizzed my knowledge of the phonetic alphabet and told me he loved me for the first time (apparently the alphabet was a deal breaker).

-As I started to lose steam close to our destination, I was no longer listening to Ellie Goulding, but singing along to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now (on repeat), complete with elaborate hand gestures, in an effort to stay awake.

The weekend was lovely. Three weeks (months/years) from now I may not remember the jacuzzi tub that sat in the middle of our hotel room, or that the 5 year old ring bearer dropped the rings and said “I should really be more careful,” how both the bride and groom cried throughout their wedding ceremony which took place in a picture window covered room overlooking the wind ravaged beach on a day that saw 62 tornados, or that I bought a 6 dollar carton of the Blue Bell ice cream they don’t sell in Virginia , but I am certain I will one day recall the drive there.

*’s

It’s time for another edition of: I’m too lazy to write a real post, so I’ll condense the activities of the last few weeks in a series of bullet points (and maybe a picture or two).

*Maybe I was secretly hoping that the government would shut down (if only for a few days). I mean, I’m glad that Mister (and the other 800,000 people who would have been out of a job) will continue to work and get paid, but I was really looking forward to a forced vacation from French.

*During class yesterday, our teacher told us his phone number three times (in French of course) and said that the first person to call him and say “Bonjour” would win. I was the winner, and celebrated with a victory dance  and touchdown-esque phone spike to the ground (well, actually, it just slipped out of my hand as I was standing up to go write the number on the board, but this makes for a better story). My phone responded by breaking into three pieces (a million actually, if you count the shattered inner-screen). It’s full on dead, or as Mister would say: DRT (dead right there). Quel dommage!

*No seriously, it’s horrible. I’m quite attached to it, and I won’t get my replacement phone for a few more days.

*My new phone is of the android variety. I’m pretty excited about it. What apps do I need? (Thanks Mr. P for your help! I owe you big time.)

*What did people do before cell phones? Mister and I went to the mall today and I felt like I couldn’t let him out of my sight. I have no idea what I would have done if we got separated. (Probably cry on a bench.)

*The weather on Monday was gorgeous. This is where I did my homework:

*So much better than some of the other places I study:

*We had so much fun in Texas last weekend. It was so great to spend time with our family and friends, many who drove several hours just to see us. We are so lucky to have such great people in our lives.

*It was also so great to eat Blue Bell cookies and cream ice cream and Creamy Jalapeno dressing. I miss it already.

*If you’re ever in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, do yourself a favor and visit the Ft. Worth zoo. It is amazing, and I don’t even like animals. The enormous dreadlocked orangutan and the little baby chimp and his momma made the $12 entrance fee worth it. And that was just the first exhibit!

*I recently discovered Ellie Goulding and am completely obsessed. I’ve been listening to this one non-stop.

Ellie Goulding–Salt Skin

*While looking for the above video I found this remix of another favorite Ellie Goulding song. I really like it!

Ellie Goulding–Lights (Bassnectar Remix)

*I’m going to go without treats from Monday – Friday this week. I’m not sure I can do it. FSI has the most amazing cookies and I find them irresistible. I ate them no less than three times last week.