reflecting at a personal milestone

I cannot believe it. Today I am 27 years old! I remember being 18 and thinking how far away my 27th birthday was, my golden birthday. Here it is. Today. WOW! I am a little speakless. Hitting this personal milestone has me reflecting on where I have gone, where I am now, and where I am headed. Looking back, a lot of things have happened. Finished school with a BS in Human Resource Management. Parents got divorced. My mom passed away. Traveled to London, Paris and Rome. Ended a three year relationship. Backpacked for a week on the Superior Hiking Trail. Canoed for a week in the Boundary Waters. Some friends have gotten married. Some friends have kids. My sister became my best friend. Lived in Uptown Minneapolis for 2 years. Been assaulted and robbed. Lived with the grandparents for 3 months. I am now living in Dallas, Texas with my brother and we are fighting a lot less than I ever imagined. Ran a half marathon on February 16th. And have been at Clark Consulting for 5 years. I believe I am on the path I want to be on. Some goals I have for my future: move to at least three more states, join the PeaceCorp, go on a trip every year, get my Masters, run a marathon.....

Medieval Times

Sara and I went to Medieval Times last night. Pretty fun!!!

It is like the Renaissance Festival but you stay seated and dinner is served. There is jousting and sword fighting.

The regular meal included tomato bisque soup, garlic bread, roasted chicken, spare rib, herb-basted potato, pastry of the castle and two rounds of select beverages.


The vegetarian meal included tomato bisque soup, garlic bread, large Portobello mushroom cap stuffed with whole grain, rice and bean blend, large skewer of roasted vegetables, hummus with pita chips, pastry of the castle and two rounds of select beverages.


We cheered on the Blue knight!!

Kathy and my Birthday Celebration on February 21st

Vegan cupcakes from Spiral Diner at Kathy's apartment before going out.

First we went dinner at La Parrillada Mexican Restaurant across the street from the apartment complex!! People kept coming and we just kept adding tables.

Then we went to the Goat afterward, right next door to La Parrillada Mexican Restaurant. There was a band playing. We closed the bar down! After that, about ten of us went back to my place until 3am.

It took me all day Sunday to recover. Sara and I finally went out at 630pm. We went to Hollywood Theatre. $1.50 tickets!! We saw Twilight!

Sara and I at the theatre. She decided to stay longer than just Monday. Staying until Thursday!!

Friday February 20th

Sara met me for lunch today. We walk to Tuk Tuk Asian Cuisine, less than a mile away from work. Beautiful day for a walk! Tuk Tuk in between two building, Cute little area! There is an italian restaurant and mexican restaurant and an ice cream shop there.

I got the Curry Fried Rice with tofu. Delicious!!!

Sara got the Peanut Chicken Splash with fried rice.

Sara is in Town for the Weekend!!!!

Wednesday February 18

Erin and I went to the Granada on Greenville Ave last night to see Lykke Li.

Sarah Jaffe was the opening act. She had a Damien Rice feel to her. Really good!!! Actually thinking about buying her CD.

Then Lykke Li came on for about an hour. Interesting.... I do not know how to describe her music. A couple of her songs were very dance clubish.

Austin, TX February 13th thru 16th

Amanda, Stacy, Susan, Kathy and I left Dallas on Friday evening for a weekend in Hill Country. We stayed at Amanda's grandparent's house in Llano, about an hour north of Austin. Friday night we got there around 11pm and pretty much went right to bed. The next day Amanda, Kathy and I went for an easy 2 mile run.

Driving to Austin on February 14th in the afternoon.

We were driving around looking for somewhere to eat. We decided to have dessert first. Soy ice cream at Toy Joy . Kathy and I had Chai Curious smoothies.

Susan, Amanda and Kathy had soy ice cream in a cone. Amanda asked the people at Toy Joy some suggests on where to eat lunch. They said Daily Juice.

Daily Juice is a raw vegan restaurant. Delicious!!! I got the Texicali Tacos.

Susan got a Texicali Taco and Ginger Miso Soup.

Amanda got the Avocado Caesar sandwich and Avocado Sandwich.

Kathy got an Enchilada.

Stacy got the Southwestern Salad. It all was amazing!!!

Then we went to the expo to look around and got our packets.

We were at Whole Foods for about an hour getting groceries for the weekend. Kathy, Amanda, Erin and Susan goofying off in the kitchen while we made Valentines dinner on Saturday.

MMMMM...dinner was good!!!

I am wearing a gray long-sleeve shirt behind the girl in the green shirt. Susan and Stacy were between mile 6 and 7 to cheer Kathy, Amanda, Erin and I on while we ran the Austin half marathon. I ran it in 2hrs 14mins!!! It turned out to be a perfect day. A little chilly and windy in the morning then as soon as we were done with run, the sun came out!

Erin, Amanda, Kathy and I showing off our medals. Kathy has an ice pack on her knee.

We went back to Llano after the run to shower and get ready. We went to Becker Vineyards to sample some wines.

Then we had dinner at Auslander Biergarten & Restaurant, a german restaurant, in Fredericksburg. MMMM...veg burger and side salad. After dinner we started watching Princess Bride, I went to bed about 20mins into the movie. I was so tired.

We went to Enchanted Rock on Monday afternoon.

Walking on the hill.

It was really pretty on top of the mountain. There are hills in Texas, its not all flat.

While driving back to Dallas Monday night we saw, sheep, goats, cows, horses and donkeys.

Chocolate Secrets

I am going to Chocolate Secrets tonight with a meetup group to learn how to pair chocolate and wine. Chocolate Secrets is an uptown boutique store and cafe that makes their own chocolates. Look at their In-Store menu on the website. MMMM!!!

Update:
The class was really interesting. She mostly talked about pairing food and wine.

my new favorite lip balm!!!

February 3, 2009

Beautiful morning in Texas!!

Last Weekend in January!!!

It was Champika's Birthday on Monday so the Friday before we went to Aura to celebrate. No drinking for me. I woke up on Saturday at 6am to run in the 15k(!!!!) at 8am. Then on Monday for Chamika's birthday dinner, a group of us went to Asian Mint. Best sushi I found in Dallas so far!!