Birthday Faces!

May is Birthday Month.  And August, too, but there are many more in May. Last night we went to Two Brothers for dinner to celebrate Joshie's 7th birthday.  Seven. How the heck is he seven?  I remember the day he was born.  Sigh.  He was so tiny and just a little peanut!  And now he's finishing up 1st grade and heading into 2nd. It's wild.

 

 We bought Joshie DC Skate shoes for his birthday, and he loves them!  He put them on right away in the restaurant! 

And finally, Lenny and Olive played and played and played and ate a camera and played and played for Lenny's birthday.

Then it was Bill's birthday, and we had a party. No photos, though because I no longer own a camera.  We had tons of food and beer, and it was super fun.  He got some gifts, I paid for the party and bought him a new subscriptions to  TransWorld Skateboarding magazine.  Last week was one of those weeks with something every day after work, so this was on Thursday: Bill ate this two days BEFORE his birthday from Big Star. 

My only friend from work had her last day yesterday, so Bill, Megan (whos leaving) her manpanion and another person from our office went to Big Star to say goodbye.  Ugh so sad. 

And finally, on Bill's birthday, he bought himself a new vacuum that we're both stupid excited about.  So he vacuumed around 1am after we went out for drinks!

In the thick of May!

May is a very important month to me.  It's our wedding anniversary, Bill's birthday, Joshie's birthday, David Carmona's birthday, Matt Lawrence's birthday, Victors birthday and Lenny's birthday.  Its a big month.  The season in May can be cold, rainy and warm on all the same day.  It means the end of a semester of teaching, a quieting down in life, but also more of a financial struggle.  The first of the three day weekends of the summer, the beginning of white pants, and the start to attempt to get color on my skin.
Oh May.  You're always that turning point month for me.  Before the end, though, Bill and I get to treat ourselves.  Yesterday was our two year anniversary!   We went to Taxim for dinner, a modern take on Greek food.  I honestly can take or leave Greek Town, so this was a nice alternative.  We  had the House Cured Sardine, the Ramps with leeks, dill, feta in phyllo dough, the lamb sausage and the wood-grilled Octopus.  Also for the main courses I had the leg of lamb with orzo and bill had the lamp chops.  It was delicious!

Today is also Lenny's birthday.  Here is his two year old picture:

Tonight starts the half-yearly sale at Nordstrom, so Bill is going to working like a maniac these next couple of weeks.  Sigh.  We are having his birthday party on Monday, Memorial Day so that should be fun!  We're having grilled sausage + pepper sandwiches, the Carmona pulled pork recipe, grain salad and chicken legs.  Sorry, drumsticks.

To you, Spring 2011 semester!

And finally I can relax.  Industry Night went off without a hitch....I was stressed out and working 10+ hours a day for a while there, and now its over.  The semester is over and my Film & Video, Television and Radio event was great.  Through all the concerns that came from people in various departments, it was the best we ever had.  Friday I was exhausted and made it to one art exhibit for Manifest. Here's a photo.

I made it to the grocery store soon after and just chilled all evening.  Saturday I went to Girl and The Goat with Mackie, Mary-Frances and Erica. It was great.  Erica and I are all about our 2011 to do list, and so I made these reservations in February after crossing off "get a new job" on my list.
We had: Pan Fried Shishito Peppers with parmesan, sesame and miso; Chickpea Fritters with romesco, hazelnut hummus, sesame and goat feta; Grilled Baby Octopus with serrano, treviso, celery root, braised pistachio and red bliss potato (it was so good it was crazy); Escargot Ravioli with bacon and tamarind-miso sauce; Goat Chorizo Flatbread with ramp pesto, rhubarb and fresh ricotta; Wood Oven Roasted Pig Face with sunny side egg, tamarind, cilantro and potato stix;  Goat Liver Mousseline with ham hock jus, citruis marmalade and crumpets; Grilled Pork Ribs with tomatillo-mushroom slaw and grilled scallion vinaigrette and for dessert, Blood Orange Sorbet with parsnip pot de creme, pistachio cake and three sisters cornmeal crust.  Wowzer, it was an awesome meal with awesome friends, which was long over due and super, super fun and necessary!  I can't wait to do it again soon!