Belated March Date

My Christmas present to Mr. R was a years worth of dates, one for each month. We had a pretty booked March (with my super amazing birthday week, family visits, and spring break) and somehow he missed out on his promised night of bowling, beer, and bar food.

Last Thursday I had planned on a picnic date in downtown St. Augustine. (They offer free music in the plaza on Thursdays, all you need to bring is dinner and lawn chairs.) But the rain clouds rolled in and it looked like our date would be rained out shortly.

I remembered I still owed Mr. R. a bowling date so we pulled out the Wii, made walking tacos, and tried Magic Hat's New Summer Ale.

Mr. R is clearly the superior bowler in our house.

He ended both games with strikes and spares galore.

6/16: Wordless Wednesday

Don't you just love how pictures can tell a story.

What do these photos say to you?

6/16: I don't think he understands that he isn't going to get any darker.

Simon just loves to sun himself in the puppy park!

6/15: Totally Made my Tuesday

My students had an impromptu beach day this afternoon. The YMCA was closed, ending my workout plans and my student's swim lesson. Instead of heading back to school I rallied the kids for an ocean swim, some bodysurfing, and ice cream. The lifeguards gave my students a lesson in riptides and ocean flags. They even got to checkout the lifeguard truck and see an AED demonstration.

Even though I missed out on my swim at the YMCA I hijacked our neighborhood pool and swam a quick 700 meters before I headed home from work. The smell of chlorine really works for me.

And lastly, Mr. R is making dinner tonight. Netflix sent me Glee Season 1 Disc 1 to watch this week. And on top of everything else, I found these at the grocery store.

Totally made my Tuesday!

6/14: Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.

My day in Photos:

Marine Science Begins! (this is what I will wear everyday for the next 6 weeks!)

A lovely bike ride!

Learning to Castnet

Swimming in the Intercoastal

Time with the pupsters

Afternoon Run: 3 miles!

Dinner: (In my mind Reese's Puffs are made healthy via the addition of skim milk)

Off to the YRs!

How was your Monday?

Pot calling kettle...

Why, oh why do I go to Mr. R's Republican meetings?

• I go to the meetings so that I can be informed. I can learn who the candidates are, what they support, and who they are tied to.
• I want to be an educated voter, making decisions based on my own opinions and not what someone wants me to think.
• Tonight's Young Republican meeting was informative and infuriating.
• Informative:Representative Mike Weinstein spoke about party politics and the damage that can be done when the party stops listening to its people. (Hello Republicans! This is your wake-up call). He voted against Senate Bill 6 (and the shit-storm of unfunded mandates that came with it). As a result of his stand against the bill he has been removed of his deputy whip post and none of his bills were passed this session. (And Republicans like to say the Democrats play dirty).
  
  
• Infuriating: Senator Thrasher Spoke for 20 minutes. He glossed over issues, left no time for questions, and proceeded to make education the scape got for all of society's problems. Ironically he spoke about small government for 10 minutes and spent the other 10 lobbying for Obamaesque policies (Race to the top anyone?)
• And....there was also enough filibustering from the McCollum camp to make Robert Byrd proud.

I realize the 2010 elections are along way off. But in my part of the county primaries begin in August and campaign circus is off and running. This year my heart does not want to vote the party line. This year my brain cannot fathom how empty promises will fix the state budget, improve country spending, and keep our schools running. This year I want to vote for what is right, not what is expected.

So what's for dinner?

image source

This is a question I get asked on a nightly basis. From my cooking-challenged husband. As we enter summer our schedule slows down a bit during the week, but really picks up on weekends. We are still budgeting and trying to eat home-cooked meals so a meal schedule is imperative to budget balancing success.

Monday: Republican Meetings Galore! (dinner is catered by Quiznos!)

Tuesday: Pizza pockets with green salad

Wednesday: Cheesesteak empanadas with strawberry salad

Thursday: DATE NIGHT! (picnic in the park)

Curry chicken salad on croissants, Watermelon, & Arnold Palmer's

Friday: FAMILY DINNER!

PW chicken potpie, garden salad, and banana split pie

Saturday: Shrimp and Grits

Sunday: Caesar Salad with grilled chicken and Texas Toast