humpin around

today was a good day.
it was sunny. oscar got to go to two dog parks.
and jes tried out a new veggie pot pie recipe that was DELICIOUS.

but before we go there, let me tell you about my new niecey.
her name is zoe jean and she is perfect.
i had been sending my sister positive energy from yoga for a quick and easy labor, and i think she got it. pitocin, an epidural, and one push, and out came zoe jean. sweet buddy.
here are a few pictures of her:





I get to see her in a few weeks when we go and visit. i am really excited. also excited to see the boys. last time i was there zach was a little blob and now he is a holy terror. a really cute holy terror.

on to humping:

this morning we decided to take oscar to a new dog park at piedmont park. this was not a great idea. there was a huge golden lab who would not stop trying to hump him and then this posse of big mean dogs with scrotums just kept on attacking him. he stuck his butt down, he rolled on his back to show that he wanted to play and then when they cornered him, he showed his teeth and got a little angry. we decided he was still a little too small for that park so we went to the park closer to our house. here he had a wonderful time but still go humped some more. first by this teeny tiny dog named roscoe. they would play and then roscoe would TRY to hump oscar, and then they would play. then this other bigger black and white dog named finn went to town on him. finally a curly furry brown dog arrived and finn got more interested in him. oscar was so good about it and he was super sweet to all the kids he encountered at both parks. it made me very proud of him. when we got home we gave him a bath since he ran through AND rolled in the mud at the dog park and then he took a four hour nap. i joined him for two hours while jes made an amazing veggie pot pie. we had nikki and christina over and they loved it too. then we played family feud on the wii. they totally won.

last thing i want to write about it last night. jes and i headed over to our friends new restaurant for a drink and dessert. this couple came and stood next to us at the bar because all the bar stools were taken. they lived in the neighborhood and were excited to try a new restaurant. i chatted back some. the guy was pretty drunk and the woman was on her way. the guy told jes she looked like a deerhunter b/c she had on this black and red plaid hoody. he said to the bartender "i'll have what the hunter is having." he was REAL interested in her for one of three possible reasons:

a) he was trying to figure out her gender
b) he thought she was a boy and he was gay and he wanted to get with her
c) he sensed her innate dislike for strangers touching her and therefore was drawn immediately to her

he came over and was rubbing her shoulders and her back and she just clammed up. when we left i went to go say goodbye to a friend and i had to walk past him and he wanted a hug. so i gave him a hug. whatevs. then he gave jes a hug and whispered in her ear "she's a good one (referring to me), you should keep her." jes's skin was CRAWLING. it was totally fucking hilarious. i cackled the entire way home b/c inevitably drunk people are just drawn to her and want to hug her. little kids are fascinated with her too generally and she just sort of pats their heads. its a weird phenomenon to observe and i am not sure how to interrupt it. i mean its clear i will chat with them all day long, but they don't care, they want her.

ok it's been a long day. i am going to hit the hay.
back to work tomorrow. fyah.

exciting november

While the month of November started out sort of sad, it got a lot better.
We headed to San Francisco to begin the celebration of Jes's 30th birthday.
While there we walked on the beach with the dogs, went to the hill with the dogs and ate more food than you can shake a stick at. The food highlight for me was the chicken pot pie at Liberty Cafe. It is unholy how good it was. My goal is to find a recipe that tries to come close.

Here is a picture of the beach where we walk the dogs. I can't tell you how at home I feel near the water. I could seriously sit and look at the waves all day. It is so relaxing to me.



We also went to Davis one day so Jes could see how California does a "college town." It was a sunny brisk day and we walked all over campus and the beltway and then stopped and got lunch. Here is the crew as we embark on our walk:



We also spent some quality time just laying around, playing bananagrams and eating various delicious desserts that Mary made. I think my favorite was the sweet potato cake with a sweet glaze. Good shit yall. Here are some lounging with Davis puppy pics:





We also got to visit a few friends other than Mary and Dusty. Jes got to see her old roomie Drew. We walked around the Mission with him, bought some papel picado banners for Jes's bday party and he and Jes got some "secret breakfast" (read: bourbon and cornflakes) ice cream. It actually tasted real good but was way too creamy for my stomach. On Sunday we got brunch with Nifa, her wife Maya and their babygirl Zuri. This was my first time meeting Maya and Zuri and seeing Nifa's house in Oakland Hills. It was a really lovely time. Here is a picture of the gorgeous family in front of their house:



I sang a lot to Zuri and I think she liked it.

On our last night in San Francisco, we had a beautiful and delicious dinner made by Mary and hung out and then I think I might have taken a disco nap. We took a red eye from SF back to Atlanta and then I slept for hours when we got home. Not a big fan of the red eye overall.

I had to work late on Jes's actual bday (November 17th) so we just went to El Myr with Nikki for a burrito and a pitcher of beer. It was kind of perfect really. Then that weekend we had a little get together to really celebrate her bday. It was just how I wanted it: good food and good friends. We got some dips from Taqueria del Sol, some ice cream cakes from Dairy Queen and we made a big pot of three bean chili. We also had a tiny keg of Miller Lite which I visited too many times. Thank heavens for Tylenol and water if you know what I mean.

So here are a few photos from the party. First up, Kim and Sarah looking cute like they do:



Then Nikki and Leah who ALSO turned thirty just recently:



And here is one of me and Jes after the party ended, tired as hell:



I am embarrassed to report that it ended just about midnight.

Tonight I am going to see The Christmas Carol at the Alliance Theater with my friend Angie. Jes is in Boston for a Lawyer conference.

Hope your December is shaping up nicely!