The Spice Satchel: April 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter dinner for 1

Paul is in CA for a meeting, I do believe he spent Easter helping Bitner set up his new apartment, and then getting dropped off at the hotel. I spent Easter working, it was one of the busiest days I've worked yet. Surprising, although it makes perfect sense if you think about it. After work, I put on my pajamas and took a nap, watched a movie on Netflix, crocheted and cooked dinner. I baked chicken breast- drizzled with olive oil and Balsamic vinegar, and topped with sliced onions and garlic, rosemary, basil, paprika and sage; it smelled SO good the whole time it was cooking- fresh garlic and onion roasting. And baked a potato- finger brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt and black pepper. Then I steamed some green beans, poured a glass of wine, and watched another movie on the couch. Happy Easter!

steamy hot, fogs the camera lens, haha

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I never thought I would...

Right now, Paul is in Ohio, later this week he will be flying to California- all for his job. Paul is soon returning to a college lifestyle- class and a part time job. Before that happens, I want to express my appreciation for him bringing me to DC. Paul's "real" job has provided me with experiences I never would have thought I would get, and taken me places I wouldn't have expected to visit. Quitting my preschool photographer job at lifetouch allowed me to follow Paul on some business trips. While he is at his meeting I would wander around the area of the hotel, it was a great time to take some new photos and see some new places.
The first place I went with him was Arizona. His meeting was in Tucson. Then we drove the rental car up to Flagstaff, where we thought we wanted to live at the time.

Very shortly after AZ, we went to Puerto Rico. This trip was really awesome because we got to take a tour ON the Arecibo radar telescope! Plus the hotel was walking distance to the beach.

A few months later we drove to Woods Hole, MA in the Cape Cod area, where I could again walk to the beach. Of course, it was a very different beach.

The last business trip I tagged along on was to Irvine, CA. Lucky for us, we have a friend who lives in LA, Brian Bitner, so we were able to do the whole tourist thing in one go. One great, fun, exhausting day! And at the end, I got to finally meet Kunal Nayyar! We had dinner with him, WOO! (Paul and Bitner went to high school together; Bitner and Kunal studied acting at Temple, in Philadelphia, together.) Paul had already hung out with him probably 3 times, one time he brought me back an autographed photo, "Dear Cori, Paul and I had a blast!! He got drunk. -wish you were here." haha!

While I am so happy we got to take these trips together, I am also happy that Paul is soon going back to school full time, so he can get a job doing what he really wants to do- teach high school math. I am also super happy we got to take these trips because soon we won't have the money to take such trips. Life goals for us, seem to add up to us having not much money- all we want is a teaching job for Paul, a house, a garden, in a relatively small college town, and perhaps a couple kids.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

park walking

Going to a random park, walking around to see what I can see, and of course bring my camera to share what I see with others. Going with a friend makes it even better. Last time I really went park walking was about a year ago with Angela. I'm looking forward to doing it again soon.