Weekend Update

[jaunthie]

I've got a little bit of time this evening, so let's see if I can't jot down some of this weekend's happenings and musings.

My friend monkeybard threw herself an early birthday party Friday night. It was a fun, ladies-only affair, and I got the chance to hang out with Aviva, The Woman From U.N.C.L.E, Javarah, Fitanna, SunKrux, and many other awesome women. Luthien brought the margarita makings, and crashed after the party at my place. It was really nice spending an evening out with so many folks I like, many of whom I don't get a chance to see all that often. It makes me realize that I need to socialize more often - and that I really must download the Guinness Cake recipe and find a reason to make it! It's so good, but boy, does a little go a long way! And I'm told by those who've made it a lot before that it's really important to make the cake a day ahead, as it requires time for the flavor to fully bloom. Monkeybard obviously paid attention to that detail. ;)

After the previous night's indulgences, it was definitely a good thing that I had planned on a nice long walk. At Friday night's party, Luthien agreed to come with, as did monkeybard, and Aviva and SunKrux both thought they might want to join us for around the lake. Luthien and I got out in good time on an absolutely gorgeous morning, a lovely change from the pouring rain of the last long walk. We walked over to monkeybard's place, picked her up, and headed down to the lake, where we met up with Aviva but not SunKrux - something came up and she couldn't make it. By the time we finished going around the lake, said goodbye to Aviva, and were heading back up to monkeybard's place, Luthien, monkeybard, and I were all in agreement that we were quite hungry. So we spontaneously agreed to go for brunch after cleaning up. Luthien volunteered to get us on the waiting list, and I headed back to the house to pick up my husband. The four of us had a very nice meal, and were joined by NordicBoy two-thirds of the way through. We finished up just in time for me to get back to the house, digest a bit, change into walking gear yet again, and head out to pick up BBW for a previously-scheduled walk around the lake. BBW, being the competitive, type-A-and-no-mistake guy that he is, was determined to walk around the lake faster than anyone else out there, so we really made good time. I really need to get him to drink water, though - and definitely next time we'll go someplace less crowded. The lake was packed at that time of day. We did have one lovely surprise, though; coming around one bend, who should I see but hiker_chick, running along well, making great time, and looking very good. Sometimes the world being a small place has definite good points!

After all that walking, sunshine, and exercise, it was nice to shower, clean up, and go out to hear a concert where my friend humilitas was one of the performers. The concert itself was in one of my favorite cathedral spaces; certainly my favorite of the local cathedrals (despite the epic butt-numbing effect of the very old-school wooden pews) and absolutely the right venue for sacred music by Tallis, Taverner, and Byrd. For me, listening to that music live is genuinely a religious experience; you can feel the prayer, and the faith, and the wonderful nature of creation that brought such music to be. It was a fantastic program, and I am very grateful that humilitas encouraged me to go. After the concert, the two of us wound up buying cheese and apples from the local store, chopping them up for a post-concert dessert, and talking for a nice while. One upshot of the concert and our talk was that I had another realization, too; I really don't know many Christians anymore. I have a lot of friends who believe in various deities and religions, but Christians of whatever flavor are definitely in the minority. Many of my formerly Christian friends have lost faith or moved on to other beliefs. Moreover, my friends who do believe in other religions, and those who are agnostic or atheist (and I know a number of those, too) strongly tend to be either wary or outright hostile to Christianity. Now at least in part I think this is caused by the actively rotten antics of the far Christian right in the past ten years. And let's face it, Christians haven't always been good neighbors to other faiths, other branches of Christianity, or even their own selves. But the hostility saddens me nonetheless, and makes me wonder a bit.

Sunday morning was the one morning this week I turned off my alarm and let myself sleep as late as I wanted. It was very nice out when I woke, and I was just getting ready to get out for a walk when the phone rang. It turned out that my parents' flight to visit pikespeak had been cancelled due to a storm, and they needed a ride home from the airport. My husband and I cheerfully went down to get them, in spite of my Dad's worries that it was too much of an imposition (note to Dad: no it's not!). After bringing them back to their place, my husband and I headed out for coffee...and then to the hardware store...and then to go grocery shopping, only by then it was nearing lunchtime, and shopping on empty stomachs is never a good idea. So we walked over to the nearby Thai place and had a great lunch. While there we had a great view into the windows of the furniture gallery across the street, and we decided to go on in and check them out in our years-long quest for the right bathroom fixtures. We didn't find anything bathroom related, but we think we might have found the answer to our even-more-years-long quest for a bedframe! The unit is currently on backorder, but we put down a deposit for the next shipment. We then finally made it to the grocery store, did our shopping, and put up the groceries just in time for the increasing clouds to turn into rain. Between house chores, making dinner, and wishful thinking, I didn't get out the door to go walking until 8 p.m. or so, when I finally gave up on the hope that the rain might stop. Fortunately, my Pendleton hat that I'd picked up on a whim at a sale proved just as good at keeping the rain out of my face and off my glasses as I'd hoped. I felt a bit cowboyish, what with the broad brim and the rain dripping off of it every time I tilted my head, but I stayed nice and warm. I didn't push for the full six miles, since it was late and I knew I was already ahead for the week, but I did get in more than enough to take me over the week's total.

All in all, a very good weekend, but darn it, never long enough to get everything done!

Comments

[monkeybard]

And I'm told by those who've made it a lot before that it's really important to make the cake a day ahead, as it requires time for the flavor to fully bloom. Monkeybard obviously paid attention to that detail. ;)

Actually, I'd forgotten all about that. I just knew I wouldn't have time to bake on Thursday or Friday. So I baked on Wednesday and decorated on Thursday. I love when things work out spiffy like that. :)

[jenboo.livejournal.com]

and that I really must download the Guinness Cake recipe

Ah, so I see my presence was felt even though I wasn't there. *g*

Sounds like it was a delightful time! And yes, that cake does benefit from baking a day or two ahead. Mmmmm.....

*beams with pride at monkeybard*